The Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Monday struck out the no-case submission filed by the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, and ordered him to defend the allegation of N950 million case of money laundry preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had on May 24, 2018, arraigned Mr. Shekarau alongside the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali, and one Mansur Ahmad on six counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.
However, Mr. Shekarau and the two others filed a no-case submission at the court on July 9, saying that that EFCC failed to present a prima facie case against them and urged the court to discharge them.
Delivering his ruling on Monday, September 22, 2019, Justice Lewis Allagoa held that the no-case submission pleaded by the accused persons was not convincing enough to get the court to dismiss the charges against them.
The judge also held that, having heard the submissions of both the prosecution and the counsel to the accused persons, the court is of the belief that a prima facie case has been established against the three men, warranting that they must defend themselves.
“I have considered evidence by the prosecution against the defendants, it is sufficient that they have case to answer and defend themselves,” he said.
The court further ordered the accused persons to return their international travelling documents that were earlier released to them on health grounds
Mr Allagoa adjourned the case until Nov.18 and Nov. 19, for defence to open its case.
