N5.3bn FRAUD: Absent in court again, judge orders arrest of ex-Gov Nnamani

For failure to appear in court again to answer to his alleged 5.3 billion fraud charges, the Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a bench warrant against former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani.

The court presided over by Justice Chuka Obiozor gave the order on Monday after Nnamani failed to appear in court for his scheduled re-arraignment.

Unhappy with the former governor’s action, the judge accused counsel to Nnamani of failure to give tenable reason why his client could not appear before the court.

Nnamani’s arraignment was initially fixed for Thursday but the trial failed to proceed following the absence of the prosecutor, Kelvin Uzozie, and Nnamani himself, who reportedly was out of the country.

A lawyer from the chambers of Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), M. Bamidele, had on that Thursday announced appearance for Nnamani, but told the court that the ex-governor was outside the country.

He had also told the court that his law firm got notice for Thursday’s hearing only six days ago, saying that the notice was too short to allow it duly contact Nnamani.

Bamidele had therefore prayed for longer adjournment to allow the firm adequate time to contact Nnamani.

His prayer was denied by Justice Obiozor, who fixed December 4 for the re-arraignment of the ex-governor and his co-defendants.

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The judge had submitted that since he was just assigned with the case, which has lasted for 10 years that it was not proper for it to seem he (the judge) was delaying the trial by allowing further delay.

Nnamani’s trial began in 2007 but has been stalled since July 5, 2015.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is prosecuting Nnamani and others on alleged fraud of N5.3 billion.

Judges that have handled the case include Tijani Abubakar, Charles Archibong (retd.), and Mohammed Yunusa, who was later suspended by the National Judicial Council over corruption allegations.

Some of the defendants had in July 5, 2015, entered into a plea bargain and forfeited their assets before Justice Yunusa, a situation that had left the case stalled since then.

 

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