The trial of Ishaq Modibbo Kawu,
director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), was stalled by
the absence of Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, in court.
The Independent Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had filed a 12-count charge
against Kawu accusing him of abuse of office and misleading the minister to
approve funds for a private company.
The anti-graft agency had listed
the minister as a witness to explain his role in the alleged misapplication of
N2.5 billion federal government’s digital switch-over (DSO) programme.
Mohammed was expected to be in
court on Wednesday but he failed to show up.
At the court, Henry Emore,
counsel to ICPC, said the minister was unavoidably absent because of an “urgent
national assignment”.
Emore asked the court for a new
date for the minister to be invited and that Sabo Shuaibu, a Bureau de Change
(BDC) operator, be subpoenaed to testify.
Folashade Ogunbanjo-Giwa, the
judge, granted the subpoena.
The judge told the prosecution to
be mindful of the five adjournments allowed by the administration of the
criminal justice act (ACJA), having used three already.
She also ordered the release of
Kawu’s international passport to enable him to attend the World
Radio-Communication Conference (WRC 19) taking place in Egypt, adding that his
international passport must be returned to the court’s registry before November
30.
The judge asked the NBC DG to
depose to an affidavit that his surety would be detained if he fails to show up
for his trial.
The matter was adjourned till
21st October and December 3, 4 and 5 for the continuation of trial.
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