A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was on Thursday, told that the second accused person, Mrs Chidi Phina in the ongoing pension scam trial, had since been hospitalised, being the reason for her absence at the trial and therefore leading to further delay in the trial.
The trial is a joint one which involved a former director, Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Fedration, Sani Teidi Shaibu and nine others, for allegedly embezzling N4.56 billion. The trial has therefore been stalled and subsequently adjourned till January 16, 2013.
Typically, in a joint criminal trial, all accused persons are expected to be physically present, before trial can proceed. Counsel to Phina, Godwin Uche tendered a medical report from the National Hospital and asked for an adjournment. However, prosecuting Counsel, Emmanuel Egbuagwu of Godwin Obla’s chambers did not oppose the application for adjournment, saying the trial could not proceed in the absence of any of the accused persons since it is a joint trial.
It will be recalled that EFCC had earlier re-arraigned Shaibu and nine others alongside 30 companies before the Court on an amended 24-count charge, over a N4.56 billion pension scam. This was after the EFCC sought leave of the court to withdraw the earlier charge and replace it with a new 24-count charge which included names of companies used to perpetrate the fraud; a request which was granted. The charge was, however, read to the accused and they all pleaded not guilty.
