Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court on Thursday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to put its house in order in the trial of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
The EFCC charged Lawal alongside six others with alleged N544.1 million contract fraud.
Charged alongside the former SGF are Hamidu, Lawal’s brother and Director of Rholavision Engineering Limited; an employee of the company, Sulaiman Abubakar; and the Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Limited, Apeh John Monday.
Justice Okeke gave the advice after the EFCC counsel, Ofem Uket, informed the court that although the matter was slated for a continuation of trial, none of the EFCC witnesses were in court.
The judge then fixed June 10 and 16, 2020 for the continuation of hearing.
Earlier, Uket apologised over the development, adding that it was not in his character to stall trial the way it happened.
Lawal and the five other defendants were present in court.
Uket pleaded with the court to give him another opportunity to enable him to reach out to the witnesses.
He said: “It is regrettable that none of my witnesses is in court for this trial.
“I wish to apologise for this and I humbly urge this honourable court to give me another adjournment.”
Counsel to Lawal, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), told the court that EFCC counsel had informed him of the predicament he was in, concerning the witnesses.
Olujimi did not object to the EFCC request for an adjournment.
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