Justice Dairus Khobo of the Kaduna State High
Court sitting in Kaduna today threatened to revoke the bail granted to Muhammed
Sodangi, an accused person standing trial on 13 counts of personation and
stealing to the tune of N66million, over the continued absence of his counsel,
Jafar Abbas in court.
Sodangi was arraigned in May 2014 by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for allegedly defrauding the Kaduna State
government of N66million by abusing his position as pension consultant to the
state government, to smuggle his name into the pension payroll.
The EFCC has so far presented four witnesses (two
from banks and two officials of the state government) and was set to present
its last two witnesses today but for the absence of the defence counsel.
When the matter was called, prosecution counsel
Sylvanus Tahir informed the court that he had his witnesses in court and was
ready to continue with the hearing.
However, the accused who was already in the dock,
had no legal representation. On enquiry, Sodangi told the court that his lawyer
sent him a text message, informing him of the session today, on Friday,
November 27, 2015. “My lord, I tried calling him but I could not get through. I
do not know his whereabouts or why he is not here,” he stated.
The presiding judge noted that the accused
person’s response confirmed that his counsel was aware of the date for the
hearing but deliberately stayed away. He reminded the accused that criminal
trials are supposed to be conducted expeditiously.
“If you were in prison am sure your relations
will do the needful to get your lawyer to come.” Justice Khobo urged the
accused to contact his counsel to ensure the trial continues or risk the
revocation of the bail earlier granted him by the court.
The Judge then adjourned the matter to January
19, 2016.
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