The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has closed its case against the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau after presenting four witnesses and tendering several exhibits.
Shekarau is being prosecuted by the EFCC alongside two others, Aminu Bashir Wali and Mansur Ahmed for allegedly collecting the sum N950 million from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deizani Alison-Madueke for the purpose of influencing the outcome of 2015 general election.
Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded “not guilty” and thus setting the stage for trial to commence.
During the course of trial, the prosecuting counsel, Musa Isah, called two bank managers Branch and Operations respectively, the investigation officer, Mahmud Tukur and the man in charge of the distribution of the alleged sum, Gambo Sallau, in his effort to prove the case against the defendants.
At the resumed hearing today, Isah told the court that the prosecution was satisfied with the evidence of its four witnesses and so was closing the case “at this stage”.
Counsel representing Shekarau, J.S. Okutepa, SAN requested the court for two weeks to enable him file a no-case submission on behalf of his client.
S.T. Ologunorisa, SAN who represents the 2nd and 3rd defendants also adopted the prayer of Okutepa.
Justice Allagoa granted the prayers of the defence counsels and also gave the prosecution two weeks to respond to the no-case submissions.
The matter has been adjourned to July 2, 2019 for adoption of no-case submission.