Justice D.D. Longi of the Plateau State High Court, Jos today, May 31, 2018 adjourned hearing on an application by the Provost of Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology, FSMLT, Dr Nkereuwem Sunday Etukudoh, seeking the discharge of an interim forfeiture order directing him to surrender to the Federal Government properties allegedly purchased with stolen FSMLT funds.
Properties forfeited are: A duplex situated at No 1 Senator John Mbatu Crescent (Plot 240) Andi Kan Beulah Estate, Phase 2, Kafe, Abuja, four flats situated at No 2 Edem Urua Road, Off Nudo Udoma Avenue, Itam Ikot Ebia Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, a parcel of land measuring 4,183.560 square meters situated at Ediene Ikot Obio Imo, Abak Road, Uyo, and another parcel of land measuring 2,657.686 square meters at Defarmco Street, Eniong Offot, Uyo Akwa Ibom State.
The application for vacation of the forfeiture order was brought before the court by Etukudoh’s counsel, Solomon Umoh, SAN, who further brought to the attention of the court a pending motion on notice filed by the defence on April 5, 2018 directing the prosecution to make available outstanding documents in their custody including tenders board file, store ledgers, payment certificates and vouchers, evaluation reports retrieved from the FSMLT, as well as, Etukudoh’s international passports.
Presenting the prosecution’s counter claims in affidavits dated May 30, 2018, prosecution counsel, Samuel Okeleke, noted that most of the documents requested for were not in the Commission’s custody.
Okeleke maintained that the current retention of the first defendant’s passport was necessary to prove some counts in the charge, explaining that documents retrieved during investigations had been returned to the school over a year ago, except for three store ledgers which the school was yet to delegate an officer to receive.
