The trial of a former governor of Zamfara State Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi alongside three others before Justice Fatima Murtala Aminu of the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau could not go on today as planned following an application brought by the former governor challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try the matter.
Others charged alongside Shinkafi are, Bashir Yuguda, Aminu Ahmed Nahuche, Ibrahim Mallaha.
The former governor brought the motion through his counsel, M.R.D Labaran who urged the court to determine the motion before proceeding to trial.
Prosecution counsel Musa Isah informed the court that the said motion was served on the prosecution yesterday, June 26. However, Isah informed the court that going by the provision of section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the said motion cannot stop the court from proceeding with the matter.
Counsel representing first defendant, J.C Shaga informed the court that his client was served with motion. He further told the court that the first defendant has right to be served and take position in the said application and also make representation as to whether the motion should be determined first or it could be rolled over with the substantive case.
Counsel representing the 3rd and 4th defendants aligned with the submission of Shaga and urged the court to make an order of service to be effected on their clients.
After listening to the submissions of the learned counsel, Justice Aminu adjourned the matter to the 10th of October, 2018 for the hearing of the motion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the 22nd of May, 2018, arraigned the defendants before the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau on a five count charge of Conspiracy and Money Laundering to the tune of N450,000,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only).
