Adoke’s arraignment stalled as EFCC fails to serve defendant

Mohammed Adoke

The failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to serve copies of the charge on one of the defendants has stalled the proposed arraignment of former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.

Adoke was to be arraigned on Wednesday on a 42-count charge, following alleged role he played in the $1.1 billion Malabu Oil bloc fraud.

Other defendants in the charge are Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.

However, when the case was called up, EFCC’s lawyer, Bala Sanga, told the court that the prosecution was unable to serve all the defendants with the charge.

According to him, the second defendant, Abubakar, was on the run and was arrested about 15 minutes before proceeding commenced.

Justice Idris Kutigi then adjourned arraignment of the defendants to Thursday.