Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, June 30, 2016, dismissed a no-case submission filed by a former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, through his counsel, Awa Kalu, SAN, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Ohakim is facing trial for allegedly making a cash payment to the tune of $2, 290,000.00 (about N270,000,000) for the purchase of a property situated at Plot 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as Number 60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro in Abuja.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the January 26, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, while under arrest for an offence under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 knowingly failed to make a full disclosure of your assets by not declaring your ownership of the property known and described as Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District- it is also known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004 and punishable under the same section.”
The former governor had pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge when it was read to him.
Consequently, the prosecution presented a number of witnesses and tendered several documents, which were admitted in evidence, to prove its case against the defendant, before it closed its case.
However, at the last hearing on June 6, 2016, the defence filed a no-case submission against the prosecution.
In his ruling today, Justice Ademola stated that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the defendant.
The case has been adjourned to October 10 and 13, 2016 for the commencement of the defence.
