The money laundering trial of Senator Obong Albert Bassey before Justice Agatha A. Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State was stalled on October 21, 2021.

This followed the absence of the Senator’s counsel, Solomon Umoh (SAN), in court on Thursday, October 21, 2021.

Aniema Etuk, who held the brief of the lead defence counsel, informed the court that the learned silk was sick and couldn’t make it to court.

Etuk further told the court he was ill-prepared to proceed with the matter as he did not have the facts of the case.

He offered to withdraw from the matter.

But the prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, opposed the request of the defence and urged the court to dismiss the same on the grounds that the defence had continuously come up with excuses to delay the trial.

After listening to the arguments of counsel, Justice Okeke refused the application of the defence, citing the provision of section 349(8) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, which requires the defence to inform the court at least three days before such withdrawal.

The Judge, therefore, ordered the defendant to enter the dock and open his defence.

But Bassey pleaded with the court to adjourn to October 22 to enable him to come to court with another lawyer.

He said: “My lord, I don’t want to work with this counsel.

“Please my lord adjourn the matter to enable me to bring a new lawyer.”

Justice Okeke refused his request but adjourned the matter to October 22, 2021.

When the matter was called on Friday, the lead defence counsel, Solomon Umoh (SAN), who was said to be sick the previous day, announced his presence.

The learned silk immediately apologised to the court for his absence on Thursday but informed the court that he still could not proceed with the matter due to his ill health.

Justice Okeke granted his request for a new date and adjourned the case till November 29, 2021, for the continuation of defence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Senator Bassey on six counts of money laundering arising from the allegation that he took possession of six vehicles worth N204 million at the instance of one Olajide Omokore, whose companies had contracts with the State Government at the time.

Investigations revealed that the said vehicles were proceeds of crime and that he committed the offence while he served as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee in December 2012.

The offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and is punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

TodayNG