THE trial of a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam and others before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has suffered many setbacks. Abdulsalam was charged alongside six others over alleged stealing and conversion of NAMA’s N6.8bn by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Others charged alongside Abdulsalam are, Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite and two companies – Randville Investment Ltd. and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd. The first setback the trial suffered since the arraignment was, the disappearance of the prosecution first witness. The second setback was the mysterious death of the lead prosecution counsel, and third, the disappearance of the prosecution of the second witness that the new prosecutor was banking the case on.
According to our inside source, Counsel for the accused has brought a motion to declare a mistrial. But the trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi dismissed the motion and rather adjourned the trial several times, as the setbacks occurs.
Our sources revealed that the latest setback is that the trial judge, Justice Kuewumi has been transferred out of the jurisdiction of the trial for no just cause. It was also gathered that the case file has been transferred to admin judge so as to reassign the matter to another judge who will start a de novo (afresh) hearing.
Our sources also revealed that the above listed setbacks are the doings of the accused who are using their political influence and connections with the ruling government regime to manipulate the judicial system and threaten any potential witnesses into refusing to testify against them. Due to set backs suffered by the trial, there is every possibility that the case is heading to an acquittal unless the new prosecution is able to get hold of their witnesses and the case is reassigned to a new judge, who would not be pressured into dismissing the case.
