- Dauda had filed a motion praying the court to quash the amended charge on various grounds.
- Dauda, through his counsel, Jimoh Nureni, argued that the Economic and and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has no power to interfere with the revenue of Kogi state which is the subject matter of the charge.
The trial of Ali Bello and Suleiman Daudu has been postponed to March 14 by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has also been cautioned to exercise caution in handling the trial.
In addition to granting an expedited hearing, the court threatened to drop the prosecution’s accusations against the defendants should they fail to exercise due diligence.
In order to prevent delays, Justice James Omotoso, who issued the warning on Friday, requested that the anti-graft agency always have all of its witnesses and evidence available on the dates that adjourn.
He warned that he would not tolerate lackadaisical attitude from any of the parties in the matter while shifting resumption of trial to March 14, 15, 20 and 21.
Justice Omotoso also directed the defendants to keep further objections against the trial at abeyance, especially to the final address stage.
The Judge, who made this observation while ruling in a motion on notice filed by Suleiman Daudu challenging the amended charges, however, refused to quash the 17-count amended charge, involving alleged money laundering.
The court also declined to transfer the trial of the two defendants to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, in line with the argument of the 2nd defendant through his counsel, Mr Jimoh Nureni, SAN, that since the alleged offence was committed in Lokoja, the proper and appropriate venue for trial should be at the Federal High Court in Lokoja.
The judge noted that the Federal High Court in Nigeria was one and that trial of any matter could be prosecuted in any of its divisions.