EFCC arraigns Gbenga Daniel on 15-count charge
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State has been arraigned on a 15-count charge at the High Court, Isabo Abeokuta.
Daniel was brought to the High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, at 9.10 a.m.
As soon as he alighted from a white Toyota Hiace bus with Abuja registration number PBR – 737 - BWR, Daniel requested to visit the public convenience (toilet) and was accompanied there by security operatives.
During the hearing of the case file Abk/EFCC/02/2011, the lead counsel to the former governor, Prof Taiwo Osipitan told the court he had just been served with a 304-page document containing a 16-count charge against the accused.
He, therefore, requested for a 30-minute stand down to enable him study the charge, so as to react to them.
The trial judge, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje granted the application.
On resumption of the court's proceedings by 10 a.m. the 16-count charge was read to Daniel and he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Osipitan told the court that he had filed in a bail application dated Oct 12, and he had just served the EFCC's counsel, Rotimi Jacobs.
Jacobs appealed for an adjournment till Friday, Oct 14, to enable him study the bail application.
Osipitan requested that pending the hearing of the bail application, Daniel should be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.
He also appealed that one Mr Femi Babafemi, the Public Relations Officer of EFCC should be cautioned against his unguarded utterances, adding that Babafemi should stop trial through the media.
Counsel to EFCC, Jacobs said it was an irony that Daniel’s counsel was requesting that his client should be remanded in EFCC custody.
He referred to the allegations in the media by one of Daniel’s counsel, Yemi Oke that Daniel was being subjected to inhuman condition by the EFCC.
According to him, it is not in the character of EFCC to maltreat any suspect.
Rotimi requested for improvement in the security around the court, saying that the noise of the crowd outside was disturbing the peace of the court.
The Judge, in adjourning the case till Friday for hearing of the bail application, promised that there would be improvement in the situation.
He also ordered EFCC's counsel to caution the commission's Public Relations Officer against statements that could be prejudicial to court proceedings.
Meanwhile, while the proceeding was going on, various groups comprising students, supporters and opponents of the former governor were chanting various slogans outside, thus disrupting proceeding in the court room.
Some students were carrying placards, some of which read “Daniel must be jailed”, “He has looted our treasury”, among others.
Some supporters of Daniel too were seen chanting solidarity songs.
Security operatives had a tough time controlling the crowd, shooting into the air, to disperse them.
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State has been arraigned on a 15-count charge at the High Court, Isabo Abeokuta.
Daniel was brought to the High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, at 9.10 a.m.
As soon as he alighted from a white Toyota Hiace bus with Abuja registration number PBR – 737 - BWR, Daniel requested to visit the public convenience (toilet) and was accompanied there by security operatives.
During the hearing of the case file Abk/EFCC/02/2011, the lead counsel to the former governor, Prof Taiwo Osipitan told the court he had just been served with a 304-page document containing a 16-count charge against the accused.
He, therefore, requested for a 30-minute stand down to enable him study the charge, so as to react to them.
The trial judge, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje granted the application.
On resumption of the court's proceedings by 10 a.m. the 16-count charge was read to Daniel and he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Osipitan told the court that he had filed in a bail application dated Oct 12, and he had just served the EFCC's counsel, Rotimi Jacobs.
Jacobs appealed for an adjournment till Friday, Oct 14, to enable him study the bail application.
Osipitan requested that pending the hearing of the bail application, Daniel should be remanded in the custody of the EFCC.
He also appealed that one Mr Femi Babafemi, the Public Relations Officer of EFCC should be cautioned against his unguarded utterances, adding that Babafemi should stop trial through the media.
Counsel to EFCC, Jacobs said it was an irony that Daniel’s counsel was requesting that his client should be remanded in EFCC custody.
He referred to the allegations in the media by one of Daniel’s counsel, Yemi Oke that Daniel was being subjected to inhuman condition by the EFCC.
According to him, it is not in the character of EFCC to maltreat any suspect.
Rotimi requested for improvement in the security around the court, saying that the noise of the crowd outside was disturbing the peace of the court.
The Judge, in adjourning the case till Friday for hearing of the bail application, promised that there would be improvement in the situation.
He also ordered EFCC's counsel to caution the commission's Public Relations Officer against statements that could be prejudicial to court proceedings.
Meanwhile, while the proceeding was going on, various groups comprising students, supporters and opponents of the former governor were chanting various slogans outside, thus disrupting proceeding in the court room.
Some students were carrying placards, some of which read “Daniel must be jailed”, “He has looted our treasury”, among others.
Some supporters of Daniel too were seen chanting solidarity songs.
Security operatives had a tough time controlling the crowd, shooting into the air, to disperse them.
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