Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting
in Lafia, Nasarawa State, today December 1, 2014
dismissed an application filed by Timothy Anthony
Anjide, the second accused person in the ongoing
trial of Aliyu Akwe Doma, former governor of
Narasawa State.
EFCC Press Release
Akwe Doma: Court Refuses Request for Transfer
of Case
Akwe Doma
Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting
in Lafia, Nasarawa State, today December 1,
2014 dismissed an application filed by Timothy
Anthony Anjide, the second accused person in the
ongoing trial of Aliyu Akwe Doma, former governor
of Narasawa State.
Doma, Anjide and Dauda Egwe are being prosecuted
on a 10 count-charge bordering on money laundering
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC.
Anjide had approach the court, asking that the case
be re- assigned, alleging bias against her lordship.
At the resumed hearing today, the defence counsel,
Olalekan Ojo, who stood in for Charles Edosomwan,
SAN, brought a notion on notice for an order of the
honourable court to transfer the case. The defence
stated that there had been circumstances in the
proceedings that suggest a likelihood of bias by the
judge. He stated that the judge has failed to
subpoena certain functionaries of the state, and that
her lordship compelled the second accused (Anjide
Timothy) to appear before the court in spite of his
critical health condition. He argued that the second
accused has lost confidence of getting a fair trial
before her lordship.
The prosecuting counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged
the court to dismiss the application. He stated that
‘the application does not show that the first and third
accused have lost confidence in the court. It is only
the second that is complaining’.
Pinheiro further stated that for a case of bias against
a judge to be established, there must be concrete
evidence in support of the charge. “It is not enough
to say there is a suspicion of bias, rather suspicion
must be reasonable and looked from objective
stand.”
The prosecution further said that the defence does
not need a subpoena when it can apply for certified
true copies of document.
According to Pinheiro, the cry of the applicant that
the subpoena applied for has been consistently
turned down by the court is premature and
misconceived because the prosecution is yet to close
its case neither is it time for the accused persons to
open their case.
In dismissing the application, Justice Okeke stated
that the application for transfer of the case lacks
merit.
The case was adjourned to January 19, 20 and 21
2014 for continuation of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
1st December, 2014
saharareporters.com/2014/12/01/efcc-press-release-akwe-doma-court-refuses-request-transfer-case