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FGN vs Danjuma
Goje: AGF takes over case
By Joseph A. Adudu
June 07, 2019
The
office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has this Friday taken
over from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) the prosecution of
Senator Danjuma Goje. Goje is standing trial at the Federal High Court Jos
Division on alleged corruption charges. In May this year, the matter was
adjourned until June 20, 2019. Consequently, today’s sitting was an emergency occasioned
by the aforementioned.
When
the case file was called, Akutu P.U. representative from the office of the AG
told the court that their office took over the case in the interest of justice.
In
his response, Paul Erokoro (SAN) counsel to Danjuma Goje didn't object to that
saying, saying that the decision of the AG was pursuant to Section 174 Sub-1(v)
hoping that will expedite action for the simple fact that 19 out of 21 charges
had gone.
In his submission, counsel to the EFCC, Wahab
Shittu didn't object the application too. According to him, the EFCC had
already briefed them on the new development. "Absolutely no objection my lord for
Attorney General to take over at this stage. EFCC has already briefed us on the
development." Said Shittu.
The
Presiding Judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri adjourned the case to June 21st for
defendants to open their defence on count 8 and 9 charge out of the 21 charges
against Goje.
Recalled that Goje, Senator representing Gombe
Central at the National Assembly, in 2011 alongside, a former Executive
Chairman, Gombe state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Aliyu
Ubandoma El-Nafaty, Food Supplier to Gombe state Government, Sabo Tumu – now a
deceased and an Auctioneer, S.M Dokoro was accused of laundering, diverting and
misappropriating the sum of N6.6 billion belonging to the Gombe state between
2007 to 2011.
EFCC
in a 21-count charge filed before the court said Goje had misappropriated the
state’s N5 billion loan from Access Bank that was granted by the state’s house
of assembly to complete infrastructure in the state and N1.4 billion contract
for the supply of dictionaries to the primary and junior secondary schools in
the state through the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB).
However,
two months ago, Justice Babatunde Quadri in his judgement struck-out 19 out of
the 21 count charge which included 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 20, 19 and 21 which bordered on diversion, laundering and
misappropriation.
Judge
ordered that Goje, as 1st defendant and based on count charge 8 and 9, to enter
witness box to explain why he gave an order to the 3rd defendant- S.M. Dokoro
to auction 50 Toyota vehicle.
The
matter was then adjourned to May 8th to enable Goje to enter trial box and
defend himself against count charge 8 and 9, but due to ill-health Goje wasn't
able to be in court on that day.
The
case was then adjourned to 20th June, but hurriedly brought back to Friday
(today) after the Attorney General has taken over the case.
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