The
anticipated arraignment of two members of the House of Representatives,
Herman Hembe and Ifeanyi Azubuogu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission before a Federal High Court, Abuja, was stalled amid drama
on Thursday.
The development was due to a number of
factors, including Azubuogu’s absence from the court, as well as a
motion by the accused persons challenging the jurisdiction of the court
granting leave to the EFCC to try them.
Also, the lawyers told the court that they
were served with the opposing party’s motion on Wednesday, and that they
had not had enough time to respond.
The development prompted, Justice Abubakar Umar, to adjourn till May 28.
Hembe and Azubuogu were until recently, the
chairman and deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Committee
on Capital Market and Institutions, respectively.
They were in charge of the probe of the
near collapse of the capital market until a bribery allegation brought
against them by the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, led to their ouster.
At the commencement of the sitting, counsel
for Azubuogu, the second accused person, Emeka Etiaba, informed the
court that his client was not present in court.
Etiaba told the court that Azubuogu travelled to Nnewi, Anambra State, as a result of the kidnap of a relative.
He went ahead to inform the court that he
had filed a preliminary objection challenging the leave granted to the
EFCC to arraign the lawmakers.
The defence counsel maintained that the
proof of evidence filed by the EFCC did not disclose that any crime was
committed by his client and questioned the proprietary of the leave
granted by the court.
However, the judge frowned on Azubuogu’s absence, noting that it was shameful for a lawmaker to disrespect the law.
Umar said, “The accused is not here and decided to travel to wherever.
“It is a shame if a lawmaker chooses not to respect the law.”
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