The arraignment of the
former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva and six others before a Federal
High Court sitting in Abuja did not go on today as expected
Though, the ex-governor
was present in court, his counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN objected to his client
taking a plea on the grounds that they were not served with hearing notice.
He contended that the
provision of the law which allows for seven days before arraignment should be
complied with.
Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi
Jacobs however urged the presiding judge , Justice A.R Mohammed to proceed with
the arraignment since the accused persons were already in court.
Besides, he added that the
defence already have a proof of evidence and the amended charge.
But Fagbemi insisted on
the defence’s right to a hearing notice.
Consequently, Justice Mohammed
adjourned the case to January twenty three, twenty fourteen for hearing on the
notice of preliminary objection.
Sylva was to be
re-arraigned following fresh evidence linking him with a bouquet of fraudulent
transactions that borders on money laundering during his tenure as governor of
Bayelsa State between two thousand and nine and twenty twelve.
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