The Appeal Court sitting in
Kaduna has trashed the application filed by former governor of Katsina State,
Ibrahim Shehu Shema to stop his ongoing trial by the Katsina State Government
on grounds that he was not availed documents pertaining to the petition against
him.
The court, however, admitted the
right of an accused to be availed documents pertaining to charges against them
but said Shema’s application could not stand as it was filed prematurely and
before a plea was taken.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Shema and three others before Justice Maikaita
Bako of the state High Court for allegedly defrauding the state of N11 billion
during his eight years as governor of the state.
Shema had approached the court
asking it to stop his trial at the Katsina High court an grounds that he was
not given a fair hearing.
He told the court that the trial
in the lower court was vindictive and oppressive and capable of trampling on
his fundamental human right and requested the Appeal Court to dismiss the case
at the Katsina High Court.
In a unanimous judgment read by
Justice H.A Abiru, the court upheld the judgment of the Katsina High court on
the right of the Attorney General of Katsina State to direct the EFCC to
prosecute the former governor.
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