A federal high court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Abdullahi Dikko, a former comptroller-gener…
Counsel to ICPC, Shogunle, had reminded that at the last adjourned date, the court issued a bench warrant against Dikko and directed that the prosecution should verify his location.
He had told the court that: “My lord, we confirmed that the first defendant left Nigeria on Feb. 14, three days before the sitting of this honourable court and his destination was Dubai. “Currently, the first defendant is reported to be in London”.
Shogunle said in the circumstances, “we will be applying that the lordship extends the duration of the bench warrant such that any time he returns to Nigeria, the warrant will be executed and he will be prosecuted in court.”
He urged the court to adjourn the trial, pending Dikko’s return to the country. Justice Ojukwu, however, turned down Shogunle’s request, saying “I am not going to adjourn this natter for this reason.”
According to her, my duty is not to keep a charge that has no timeline in my docket. “If you don’t want to go on with this matter, I will strike out this charge. “Whenever you are ready to produce the first defendant (Dikko), then you re-arraign him,” she said.
But the prosecution counsel told the judge that he was determined to follow up the matter going by his presence in court. He further prayed the court not to strike out his application, adding that the International Police (Interpol) had already been contacted over Dikko.
“We had sought the assistance of the Interpol but the reason they gave was that they needed valid charges against him.
“My lord, we ask for a new date, and if we are unable to present the first defendant, then you can strike it out,” he added.
But as the trial resumed on Wednesday, Shogunle, the ICPC lawyer, informed the court that they have been unable to apprehend Dikko despite the warrant issued against him.
Shogunle, therefore, made an oral application to withdraw the charges.
Ojukwu granted the application and dismissed the charges.
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