Non-service of court processes stalls Abacha’s son’s suit

    
The arraignment of Mohammed Abacha, by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation was stalled on Thursday, due to non-service of charges on the defence counsel.

Mohammed was to be arraigned before Justice Mamman Kolo of an FCT High Court on charges of receiving stolen property worth N100.38bn.

The property was said to be owned by his late father, Gen Sani Abacha, which was later forfeited to the Federal Government

In his submission, Counsel for Abacha, Mr Abdullahi Haruna, told the court that he got to know about the arraignment ‘by accident”.

“My lord, we are not aware of this arraignment because we were not served with hearing notice, charge sheet and witness statements on oath,” he said.

Earlier, counsel to AGF, Mr Daniel Enwelum, told the court the court that the matter was for arraignment of Abacha but he was not in court.

“My Lord, we served the accused with the hearing notice and notice for amendment of the charge.

“The accused is not here to take his plea,” he said.

Justice Kolo then ordered the prosecution to duly serve the accused’s counsel with court processes.

He fixed April 29, for arraignment.

In another development, Kolo also granted the application for amendment of charge which was filed by the prosecution to

withdraw the name of a businessman, Atiku Bagudu from the case.

Bagudu was to be arraigned alongside Abacha on the same charge.

Bagudu’s counsel, Mr Rickey Tarfa,SAN, had applied to court to withdraw the name of the client on the charge sheet.

The AGF counsel did not object.