Alleged N787m scam: EFCC protests UBEC directors’ alleged plot to stall trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has protested an application by the defence counsel of the accused to stall the trial of four directors of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) over an alleged N787 million contracts.

The EFCC, according to a press statement signed by the commission's spokesman, Femi Babafemi, had gone to court with all six witnesses put together for the resumed hearing of the matter involving four directors of UBEC and other three staff of the agency.

 The prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, who arrived in the court alongside the six witnesses ready for the commencement of the trial, however, expressed shock to the trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello, when the defence counsel brought up an application seeking to quash the 64-count charge against the seven accused persons. 

The EFCC had filed an amended 64-count charge against Prof. Bridget Omotunde Sokan, former Executive Secretary of UBEC, and three directors including Molkat Manasseh Mutfwang, Michael Mtonga Aule and Dr Andrew Ekpunobi. Three other accused are Intermarkets USA; Intermarkets Nigeria Limited and Alexander John Cozma, a foreign contractor. 

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, the prosecution counsel told the court that counsel to the 4th, 5th and 6th accused (Intermarkets USA, Intermarkets Nig. Ltd and Alexander Cozma) had filed an application which was served on him in court to quash the charges.

 He prosecution counsel told Justice Bello that he was in court to proceed with the trial of the case as he has all his witnesses present in court and described the defence application as an attempt to ambush justice.  

Counsel to the 4th, 5th and the 6th accused persons, J. O Ogundeye, confirmed the application to quash the case but expressed regret that the short notice was due to the fact that they applied to certify some of the documents attached to the application since February 2, 2010. 

Barrister I .k Ijomah, counsel to the 3rd accused, alleged that he would also be applying for the charges to be quashed like the 4th 5th and 6th accused persons had proposed. 

The counsel to the 7th accused person, Barrister B J Akomolafe, in his own case, alleged that the order given at the last sitting authorising EFCC to return the passport of the 7th accused (Prof. Sokan) has not been complied with.