Application Stalls Farouk Lawan’s Arraignment

By Victor Ernest with agency report

Application challenging the decision of the Chief Judge of Abuja, Justice Ishaq Bello, to transfer the bribery case against Farouk Lawan has stalled his (Lawan) arraignment.

Lawan, who was the former Chairman, House of Representative Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy at the 7th National Assembly, was docked before Justice Yusuf Halilu of FCT High Court, Jabi.

The defendant was charged by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for allegedly receiving bribe of 500, 000 dollars from Femi Otedola, the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, Akinyosoye Arosanyi, informed the court that it had filed a motion challenging the transfer of the case to the present judge (Halilu).

Arosanyi told Justice Halilu that the Chief Judge did not follow the right procedure before it transferred the case and urged him to disqualify himself.

The prosecution said that since the Chief Judge did not follow the normal procedure, the court should transfer the case back to the Chief Judge.

The defence counsel, Godwin Iyinbor, told the court that the application was served on the defence and would file counter affidavit.

Iyinbor told the court that irrespective of any issue, the defence was ready to go on with the matter.

Justice Halilu adjourned the matter until September 28 to rule on the application challenging his hearing of the matter.