Court remands ex-Gov Goje in SSS custody

FORMER governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Mohammad Danjuma Goje was, yesterday, arraigned at a Federal High Court, sitting in Gombe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an 18 counts charge of conspiring with others to defraud the state of N24 billion.
Goje, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was ordered to be remanded in State Security Service custody till today when his bail application will be determined.
Goje who was brought to the Court around 8:15 a.m. looked calm when the 18-count charge was read to him and others. The security in and around the court premises was tight as Bauchi road leading to the court was cordoned off by heavily armed mobile police men. Consequently, motorists and other road users had to divert to adjoining roads in the metropolis.
Meanwhile, a mild drama later ensued in court between the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu and the counsel to the accused, Adeniyi Akintola, SAN when counsel to the accused questioned the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.
Provoked by the development, the prosecuting counsel, argued against the stand of the defence counsel and appealed to the Judge not to grant the accused bail until the issue of jurisdiction is resolved.
Noting the pleas of both counsel for and against the bail, the trial judge, Justice Babatunde Alayode ordered Goje to be kept at the SSS custody in the state pending ruling today on bail application.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the court had adjourned, the prosecuting counsel, Shittu acknowledged the fairness of the judge to both parties and submitted that EFCC is always out to ensure justice for all hence it “promptly arraigned the accused. They have a right to counsel and we are responding quietly because we don’t want to be seen denying justice”
Reacting, Goje’s counsel, Akintola, SAN, said he was pleased with the position of the judge on bail application and expressed optimism that his clients would get justice.
The Senator representing Gombe North, Saidu Umar Alkali, and the former Youth leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Gombe State, Abubakar Habu Mu’azu were some of Goje’s associates who came to witness the court proceedings.
Source