LINUS CHIBUIKE
JUSTICE Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against misrepresenting the proceedings of the court, with regard to the two-count bribery charge preferred against Senator Shehu Sani, through media trial.
The Court threatened to strike out the charge against Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, if the EFCC failed to discontinue what it described as distorted publications.
Sani’s lawyer, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, had complained that the EFCC misrepresented the proceedings of the court in a publication on its Twitter page.
He said the Commission’s report on its social media platforms was not a true reflection of what transpired in court in the previous preceeding.
Reacting, Justice Ekwo said, “The court of public opinion is not a court of coordinate jurisdiction. It is this court that has the last say at the end of this matter, not the court of public opinion.
“From the beginning of this case, I have said the record of this case are public records and it can be obtained by anybody including the media.”
“I don’t want to hear about distorted publications again. If I hear about it again, I’m going to throw away your case and you can take it to whoever you like,” he warned.
The court, however, discharged the 10th Prosecution Witness, PW-10, Bako Aliyu, an operative of the EFCC, after the conclusion of his evidence on Tuesday.
While being cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Aliyu said the Commission had retrieved from MTN service providers, the call log that contained conversations that took place between the defendant and the nominal complainant in the matter, Alhaji Sani Dauda.
He, however, did not tender the call log in evidence before the court.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter till May 24 for further hearing.
A report on Monday by the EFCC had said that the trial of the former senator continued with the 10th prosecution witness, Bako Aliyu, providing more details on how Sani allegedly extorted Alhaji Sani Dauda, the Chairman, ASD Motors.
Sani is facing prosecution by the EFCC on two-count criminal charges, bordering on name-dropping, influence-peddling and obtaining the sum of $25,000 USD (Twenty-five Thousand United States Dollars) by false pretence.
