The trial of a former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje at the Federal High Court Gombe, was on Tuesday stalled as the ex-governor sought for an adjournment citing his ill-health.
Goje, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering, along with three others, was not in court.
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said Goje’s counsel, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), while presenting a medical report before Justice Babatunde Quadri of the High Court, which he said emanated from the National Assembly Clinic, cited ill-health as the reason for the absence of his client.
He said, “I appeal to the EFCC counsel to accept the adjournment because the first accused person has never been absent in court except today, and he deserves to be respected as the immediate past Governor of the state, and a serving senator”.
The EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu, wondered why the accused person, who was healthy enough to attend political rallies would be too sick to attend his trial. He, therefore, opposed the application for adjournment, arguing that the medical report was not authentic.
He said, “The medical report does not bear the name of the doctor that signed it, and no official stamp is on it”.
He argued further that Sections 122 and 130 of the Criminal Procedure Act states that when an accused on bail is absent in court, the surety must appear to furnish the court with necessary information but in this instance, both the accused and surety were not in court.
The case has however been adjourned till March 17 and 18, 2015 for continuation of hearing.
