Counsel to the accused persons in a N1 billion fraud suit
before an Abuja Federal High Court, Mahmood Magaji (SAN), has opted out of the
case.
The senior lawyer, in a letter to the court at its resumed
hearing on Thursday, cited the conduct of his clients, which, according to him,
run contrary to his professional calling, as main reason for his withdrawal.
The accused persons, Aliyu Bello, a former special assistant
to the director of administration, Pension Account, office of the Head of Civil
Service of the Federation; and Abdullahi Omeiza, a sokoto-based school teacher;
were arraigned by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, alongside their companies Fafama Estate
Developers and Fafama Oil and Gas Limited, in May last year.
They are standing trial on a 5-count charge of criminal
conversion and obtaining over One Billion Naira (N1billion) from the pension
account, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by false
pretence.
Following the development, the accused persons pleaded with
the court to give them time to sort out the issue of legal representation.
Prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla, SAN, said he was willing
to concede the request for a short adjournment at the instance of the accused
persons in line with the practice directive of the Federal High court which
allows an accused to change counsel in the course of trial.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned the case to April 10 and
11, 2014 for further hearing.
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