Strike stalls Bafarawa’s trial

Source: The Nation Newspaper Published:Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Bafarawa

The strike by the members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) stalled the trial of former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and 15 others yesterday.

Bafarawa is facing a 47-count charge of corruption involving over N15 billion brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The state’s High Court, presided over by Justice Bello Abbas, adjourned the hearing of the case till March 1.

JUSUN officials had allegedly locked the main gate to the court premises, but the court’s Chief Registrar, Alhaji Bala Mohammed Gusau, opened it.

Some of the suspects, who had been on bail since December 23, last year came for the trial, but left when they could not enter the court premises.

A source said Bafarawa and the others returned back later when the court was opened.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after the adjournment, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), said: "We jointly agreed on March 1, 2010 as the court could not sit today.

"JUSUN officials were said to have taken away all the case files and even the records of the judge."

The accused persons’ lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), said: "There are no case files. So, how can the court sit? May be before the next adjourned date, the JUSUN members might have called off the strike."

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