The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , will for the third time , on Tuesday, arraign a former Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , Mohammed Adoke ( SAN ) , on amended money laundering charges involving about N 400m .
The EFCC is to rearraign Adoke alongside a businessman, Aliyu Abubakar , before the Federal High Court in Abuja on the same set of charges .
The two defendants were earlier arraigned on February 8 , 2020 , before Justice Binta Nyako .
The case was later transferred to Justice Inyang Ekwo , also of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The reassignment of the case to a new judge necessitated the re - arraingment of the defendants before Justice Ekwo on June 17 .
Justice Ekwo , had after the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 17 , adjourned till Monday for the commencement of trial .
But the trial could not start on Monday as scheduled due to a fresh amendment to the charges by the prosecution .
EFCC’ s lawyer, Bala Sanga , told the judge that the commission filed the amended charges on July 29 .
Responding , the judge frowned on the prosecution for the late filing of the amended charges just a few days to the commencement of trial . “
Justice Ekwo said , “ From June 17 to July 17 , you did nothing . That means you had one month and you didn ’ t file the amended charge . Just a few days to the trial , you filed an amended charge . A few days to when the trial is to commence .
“ Although you have the freedom to amend your charge up to the time of judgment , I do not appreciate a situation where things are not done on time . This is a 2017 matter and I was thinking I could fast track it but now the prosecution has come up with an amendment . ”
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