By Kalshingi H Jedidah Gombe
Counsel to Senator Mohammad Danjuma Goje former governor of Gombe state Chris Uche, SAN has said that the ongoing court suit against his client on the basis of money laundering and embezzlement of funds belonging to the state government was politically motivated.
Adding that based on the evidence the defence counsel had elicited from the witness brought by the Economic Financial Crime Commission EFCC during court hearing has confirmed that contracts awarded by the accused during his administration as governor followed due process contrary to the claims by the prosecutor, and that, this may destroy the court suit.
He said, “we are happy with this development, and we have been saying all this while that, this is a political case, that a man like Goje who did so much for this state should not be prosecuted in this manner, the prosecutors do not have a case and we have been able to demonstrate that through the questions and the answers we got from the witness, those documents we are tendering is going to destroy this case.”
But the prosecutor’s counsel Shittu Wahab denied the allegation saying the EFCCis a reputable organisation and that it must not be seen in the case as a persecutor rather than a prosecutor, according to him, the prosecution was to the interest of justice alone, and that only the court has jurisdiction to form an opinion on the case.
Earlier during the court hearing the accused counsel sought to tender documents formed from series of evidence brought by the EFCC in the course of their investigation.
The documents which contained copies of due process of certification in award of contracts, copy of minutes from meeting by State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB), evidence of confirmation of contract award by Universal Basic Education Commission Abuja, evidence of signatory by chairman and secretary of the board, evidence of meeting attendance by twelve members the board, among others, praying that the documents were perfectly admissible, and that the court should tender the documents as evidence.
Counsel to the prosecutor however admitted non-objection to all documents tendered but objected to the evidence of receipt of advance payment for contract on the basis that they were not certified, which the accused counsel withdrew immediately. Wahab also asked the court to admit the documents in whole rather than allowing the accused counsel select the document.
The presiding judge, Justice Babatunde Quadiri, having considered submissions by both counsels tendered some of the documents as court evidence, saying the court proceeding must strictly adhere to the rules. He however announced adjournment of the sitting to 14th to 16th of October for further hearing.
