The six year long standing EFCC Money Laundry case against Sen. Danjuma Goje has again suffered another adjournment following the ill health of the President Judge, Justice Babatunde Quadiri.
EFCC alleged that Goje and three other principal officers in his then administration conspired to defraud the state of about 5 billion via illegal acts, contrary to, and punishable under sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 as amended.
Our Correspondent reports that case resumed normal by 9.05 am of Tuesday at the Jos Federal High Court II but at about 2.00pm the Judge’s health deteriorated which warranted an adjournment after a stand down and a meeting at the chamber.
When the case came up for hearing, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Wahab Shittu, called his last prosecution witness, Mr Chris Owubu, an EFCC Official to give his evidence, which he did successfully.
Owubu had told the court how he conducted investigations on the issue of forged resolution letter of the then House of Asssembly approving the then Gombe State Government to obtain a N5 billon loan facility from Access Bank in 2006.
But when the Defence Counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro (SAN) began the cross examination of the witness, the judge began to cough.
The Judge, who had concealed his state of health, kept on managing until he couldn’t stand it any more and pleaded for a discussion with both prosecution and defence counsels in his chamber.
“Gentlemen, I didn’t want to tell you people my state of health because I thought I could meet up with the two days we earlier agreed on for the prosecution counsels to finish their case today.
“But as it is, we can’t continue with my state of health now. May I please see both the prosecution and defence counsels in my chamber for brief discussion and probably agree on a date to come back, ’’ Quadiri pleaded.
At that stage, both Erokoro and Shittu sympathized with the Judge and agreed to adjourn to enable the judge to take care of his health.
The case has been adjourned to April 10 and 11, 2018 for continuation of hearing.
