Former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema has approached the court of appeal sitting in Kaduna to set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court Katsina which had on April 23, 2018 dismissed his preliminary objection to the corruption charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Counsel to Shema, E.C Ukala SAN unsuccessfully tried to convince Justice Babagana Ashgar to rule on his client’s preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the 26-count money laundering charge, before he could take his plea. But Justice Ashgar ruled that the objection would be considered alongside the final judgment on the matter as stipulated in section 396 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Shema approached the court of appeal asking it to overturn the decision of the lower court.
When the case was called today, October 2, 2018, counsel for the appellant, P.Y Kura, SAN, informed the panel of three justices that he had a pending motion, asking for an extension of time to enable the appellant filed a brief of argument.
Counsel for the respondent, S.T. Ologunorisa, SAN, did not oppose the application. Consequently, Justice Bidiya Shata who led the other two justices, granted the application as prayed.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 22, 2018 for hearing.