A judge of a Federal High Court in Abuja, Gabriel Kolawole on Tuesday, October 3, admonished the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and its agents to desist from playing pranks with the judiciary.
Steve Orosanye
During a session on the case against the former head of service Steve Oronsaye, Justice Kolawole warned the commission to follow its investigations thoroughly before commencing arraignment of accused persons.
Kolawole in his adjournment ruling said that the act by the prosecuting counsel is irresponsible.
The Prosecuting counsel had informed the court that the charges against the accused has been increased to 35 from 24. He also said the number witnesses has increased from three witnesses to six during the course of investigation by the EFCC.
Furious by the addition of charges, Kolawole noted that it is obvious that investigations by the anti-graft agency commenced after the arrest of the accused persons.
Although the defending counsel did not object to the fresh charges and witnesses, he however prayed the court to adjourn the case to a suitable day for all parties.
He prayed the court to fix for November 25 to enable the EFCC serve the third and fifth defendants duly.
The judge said it is time for statutory agencies to stop playing pranks with extant orders by the court of law.
He however, revoked the adjournment earlier fixed for November 5 to November 25 to allow all parties involved serve the necessary paper as expected.
Kolawole added that the first and second defendants continue with the bail granted to them till November 25.
Oronsaye is being prosecuted by the EFCC is facing charges bordering on corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
The former head of service was indicted by a 169-page report by the office of the auditor general of the federation.
The report had it that during his tenure as the head of service of the federation, Oronsaye mismanaged over N123 billion and presiding over embezzlement of the country’s resources.
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