NPF ‘Vs Yakubu Busari, Court Adjourns To April 29 For Continuation, FRN Vs Prof Etukudoh To February 28

The  Senior Upper Area Court sitting in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State has adjourned the trial of Yakubu Busari, a Judiciary reporter with Universal Reporters and North-central Editor of People Reporter in Jos, to 29th Day of April, 2026, for the prosecuting counsel to prove his case. 

Hon. Justice Zi made the adjournment at the instance of the continuing absence of the nominal complainant Prof. Sunday Etukudoh, who failed to appear since he instituted the suit on proceedings for over one year.

Counsel to the defendant, Barr. Munir Abdullahi Barau informed the court that the case had continued to suffer a series of adjournments from the prosecuting counsel, Inspector Daniel Longden.

He said, numerous times when the matter was adjourned for continuation ofthe hearing, the prosecution side would introduce fresh issues that could lead to the taking of dates.

According to defense counsel, he wants to take the two witnesses together, the police IPO and Prof. Sunday Etukudoh, so that the court would make progress.

However, the matter has been denovo (reassigned to  Justice Zi)  after many adjournment and two of the defendant’s phones are still in the custody of the court as exhibits without any proof of incriminating evidence.

Meanwhile, the main case which Yakubu Busari reported on, alleged corruption of Prof Sunday  Nkereuwem Etukudoh and FRN four others, was adjourned to the 28th February 2026 for rearraignment.

FRN Vs Etukudoh and four others were arraigned sometime in 2010 before the Former Chief Judge, Hon.Justice Yakubu Dakwak, now rtd and in 2016, the matter was transferred to Retired Justice Daniel Longji for alleged diversion of funds belonging to the institution.

Also, retired Justice Christine Dabup took over from Justice Daniel Longji, but when her retirement came in 2020 the matter was stalled with no more prosecution.

The presiding judge, Hon Justice S. P. Gang in 2025 discharged and acquitted the two contractors when they were jointly charged on 15 counts bordering on conspiracy and diversion of funds.

Corruption cases, this is a project of transparent funding and supported by TrustAfrica and or department for International Development to monitor corruption cases in Nigeria to ensure compliance, reduce delay, improve efficiency, and achieve speedy conclusion of trial.

However, when reported on the 18th February, 2025, the defendant Prof Sunday Etukudoh arranged with Anglo Police station to arrest and prosecute the reporter, Mr YakubuBusari for alleged defamation of character and inciting the public.

The FSMLS was established in 2003 in Plateau, but academic activities were temporarily suspended before gaining full accreditation from the University of Jos.

Academic activities resumed at the old JUTH before the present permanent site at Lamingo JUTH, and Prof. Sunday Etukudoh has remained as the Provost of the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science Technology from 2003 to date.