The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday failed in its bid to re-arraign former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipreye Sylva, and six others on a fresh 42 counts before an Abuja Federal High Court.

The EFCC had, in a statement it on Monday, announced the plan to re-arraign the former governor alongside other accused persons – Francis Okuburo, Gbenga Balogun, Samuel Ogbuku, Marlin Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited and Halloween Blue Construction and Logistics Limited.

Sylva is currently facing a pending criminal charge also filed by the EFCC before the Abuja FHC, but the anti-graft agency in the statement explained that the new charge followed fresh evidence of corruption in its investigations into the former governor’s activities while in office between 2009 and 2012.

However, the planned re-arraignment could not take place even though Sylva was within the premises of the Abuja FHC.

Justice Adamu Bello, who is hearing the pending case filed against the former governor by the EFCC, had earlier on Tuesday morning heard an application in which Sylva, for the third time, asked for the release of his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for medical attention.

As a result of the development, the EFCC had to wait for the conclusion of the hearing before it could arraign Sylva on the fresh 42 counts before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, also of the Abuja FHC.

There were indications that the former governor would be re-arrested and remanded in custody after the planned re-arraignment.

When proceedings in the fresh charge against Sylva eventually resumed before Justice Mohammed, Sylva did not enter the courtroom.

In fact, only two of the accused persons entered the dock when the case was called by the court clerk.

Tempers flared in the courtroom after EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that Sylva, the first accused person, was present within the court premises but had refused to enter the dock to take his plea.

Ghydyon:

www.punchng.com/news/drama-as-efcc-fails-to-re-arraign-sylva/

Mozehh: .

berem: They will always fail as long as it is a political witch hunt to oppress the opposition. Shame to PDP!