EFCC seeks withdrawal of charges against APC candidate AA Zaura amid alleged fraud case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sought the withdrawal of its amended charge against Abdulsalam Abdulkareem Zaura, the Kano Central Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), before the Federal High Court in Kano.

During the previous court proceeding, the EFCC failed to produce prosecution witnesses to prove the criminal charges against the defendant, resulting in another adjournment of the case.

AA Zaura is currently being held by the EFCC for alleged financial fraud amounting to $1.2 million, involving a Kuwaiti national.

At the recent court session before Justice Mohammad Nasir Yunusa, Counsel to the EFCC, Aisha A.T Habeeb, informed the court about the withdrawal of the application that had already been served to the defendant. This decision was made to prevent any potential delays in the case.

Zaura’s legal representative, Isyaka M. Dikko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed a motion seeking the Court’s permission to strike out the amended charge due to its lack of substance.

The defendant also informed the court about their pending motion, dated 12th April 2023, which requested a stay of proceedings until a related matter before the Supreme Court is heard and determined.

Zaura’s attorney, Dikko SAN, argued that it would be redundant for the lower court to continue with the trial while a related matter is pending before the Apex Court.

READ ALSO: Alleged $1.3m Fraud: Court adjourns A.A Zaura’s trial to 30th May

The senior lawyer informed Justice Yunusa that the application before the Supreme Court challenges the Appeal Court judgment that ordered the retrial, even though the defendant had already been discharged and acquitted.

The prosecution counsel, Habeeb, requested the outright dismissal of the defendant’s application, claiming that it was a deliberate attempt to delay the trial.

Habeeb countered the defendant’s argument about the pending application before the Supreme Court, stating that the matter had already been decided by the Apex Court. She referenced previous cases where criminal trials were disallowed and concurrent proceedings were allowed.

In response to the prosecution’s objection, Zaura’s lawyer, Dikko SAN, reaffirmed that the application before the Supreme Court was still pending and yet to be decided.

Despite the EFCC’s insistence that the Supreme Court had already dismissed Zaura’s application, the prosecution was unable to provide the court with evidence to support their claim when asked to do so.

In his ruling, Justice Yunusa ordered both parties to provide the court with the necessary documents to substantiate their claims. The case was adjourned to 13th July 2023 for a ruling on the application.

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