N170m fraud: Judge grants Ogbulafor’s request

Posted by admin National Politics Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday, granted an application for severance of trial filed by former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, in the corruption case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against him.

Others standing trial with Ogbulafor in the court of Justice Isahq Bello are Jude Nwokolo and Chief Henry Ikoh.

Ogbulafor filed for the severance of his trial on December 14, after Nwokolo, who is the third accused, had filed a motion for stay of proceedings until the determination of an appeal he filed at the court of appeal.

Following this, Ogbulafor’s counsel, Chief Joe Gadzama, filed an application for severance of the joint trial to enable him to stand trial alone.

Bello ruled that Ogbulafor had the right to call for severance of trial.

“I have carefully examined the arguments for the severance of trial by counsel for the first accused.

“It is the view of this court that the first accused has the constitutional right for a speedy trial and or disposal of the corruption charges against him.

“The court will not deny the accused this prayer. The severance of trial from the other two accused will not, in any way, be prejudicial as was argued by counsel for the third accused.

“Everybody should answer for his sins,” he said.

Bello fixed January 4, 5 and 6 for continuation of trial.

In another development, the judge criticised some counsel, who filed applications for stay of proceedings.

“It is the practice by counsel to clients facing corruption charges to quickly run to the court of appeal to get interlocutory injunction staying proceedings at the lower courts.

“Instead of fast tracking the case for quick trial and disposal of such cases for their clients, these counsel slow down these cases at the high court through these injunctions.

“You should be eager to clear the names of your clients in corruption cases,” he said.wp_posts