A FCT High Court has fixed December 8 and 9 for further hearing in a case of N600 million fraud involving a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin.
At the hearing of the case on Thursday, counsel to Jibrin, Y. Maikyau told Justice A. Umar that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not serve him with the summary of the statement of the subpoenaed witness – Abdulkadir Wakili, a representative from Budget Office.
He said: “In the subpoena tendered to us, it was not mentioned what the witness is coming to say. We have not been given the opportunity to prepare our questions for cross-examination.”
After listening to the counsel, Justice Umar ordered the prosecution to serve the defence with all the materials required for the trial.
Jibrin is facing trial alongside Rear Admiral Bala Mshelia (rtd), Rear Admiral Shehu Ahmadu (rtd), and Habor Bay International Limited on four counts of criminal conspiracy preferred against them by the EFCC.
EFCC in a statement, on Thursday, said the Naval Chief while in office allegedly bought a house worth N600 million from the account of Naval Engineering Services without budgetary provision.
The anti-graft agency said: “It was also alleged that the documentation for transfer of ownership of the property was done such that a private company owned by the family of the first defendant (Vice Admiral Jibrin) became the buyer.
“The offence contravenes Section 26 (1) (b) and is punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Act 2000.”
