The Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf has reassigned the case against the suspended Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris and three others to a new judge – Justice Yusuf Halilu.
Idris; his Technical Assistant, Godfrey Olusegun Akindele; a director in the office of the AG-F, Mohammed Kudu Usman and a firm linked with Idris – Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited – were arraigned on July 22 on a 14-count charge bordering on money laundering, stealing and criminal breach of trust.
They were arraigned before another judge, Justice Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi, who served as the court’s vacation judge.
At the last hearing on August 10, the prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) told the court that the defendants have approached the prosecuting agency – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) – indicating their willingness for a plea bargain arrangement.
Based on the development, Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi adjourned till October 4 for a possible report on the plea bargain issue or commencement of trial.
However when parties got to court on Tuesday, it was gathered that the case was reassigned to Justice Halilu.
On getting to Justice Halilu’s court, the judge acknowledged the reassignment of the case to his court.
The judge said since the case was being mentioned before him for the first time, he would adjourn till later date for the defendants’ re-arraignment.
He subsequently adjourned till October 26.
