The withdrawal of counsel for a former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Taraba State, Bello Yero, on Thursday stalled proceedings.
Mr Yero, is charged alongside a former Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku with N27 billion fraud in an Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on behalf of the Federal Government, charged Messrs Ishaku and Yero with criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge .
At the resumed hearing, Samuel Fagade, who held the brief for the lead counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, told the court that they had filed notice of withdrawal as counsel for Mr Yero in the case.
He urged the court to grant the application. Mr Fagade informed the court that Mr Yero had a substitute counsel in court already.
At this point, Counsel for the former governor, Chris Umar, SAN, objected to the withdrawal of the counsel for the second defendant from the case.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, also objected to the withdrawal, saying that Mr Fagade was in court on April 28 when the prosecution led its third witness, Taiwo Jones, in evidence.
He said, “I am happy that the counsel for the second defendant brought his application for withdrawal pursuant to Section 349 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.”
Mr Jacobs said that sub (7) of the section stipulated that a counsel who starts a case was bound to continue until when judgment is delivered.
He added that sub (8) of the section stated that in the case the counsel had cause to withdraw his representation, he must file his notice of discontinuation three days before the next adjourned date in the case.
“In this instance, he only filed his notice of withdrawal yesterday. He was in court on April 28 when the PW3 began his evidence-in-chief,” Mr Jacobs said, though he later withdrew his objection.
On the prosecution’ s objection, the court granted the legal firm of Adeola Adedipe permission to withdraw from the case.
The judge then asked Mr Yero what he wanted to do in view of the withdrawal of his counsel from the case.
The second defendant told the court then that he doesn’t have any legal representation.
He, therefore, urged the court to grant him an adjournment of between four to six weeks to enable him engage another lawyer to represent him.
The counsel for the former governor did not object to the application for adjournment.
The prosecution objected and informed the court that Mr Yero indeed came to court with another lawyer who actually endorsed his name on the court’s cause list.
Acording to him, One Amos Minima endorsed his name on the cause list but later councelled it.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji then adjourned until June 15 for continuation of hearing.
(NAN)
