Judge’s ill health stalls Goje’s corruption trial

From Ado Abubakar Musa Jos

The former Governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje’s Six billion Naira corruption case, that was supposed to hold for two days- Tuesday and Wednesday at Jos Federal High Court has been adjourned to 10th and 11th of April, 2018 following the ill-health of Justice Babatunde Quadri who was presiding over the case.
Recall that since year 2011, Sen. Goje and four others have been facing an 18-count charge at the Federal High Court in Gombe, before the case was transferred to Jos Federal High Court due to security threats.
Sen. Goje and four others were arraigned by Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) for alleged money laundering and conspiracy amounting to N6 billion when he was the governor of the state between 2003 and 2011.
At the resumed hearing on the case Tuesday around 2.00pm, the Judge’s health Justice Quadri began to deteriorate which warranted an adjournment after a meeting by both counsels of the prosecuting (EFCC) and the defendants at the court’s chamber.
But during the sitting, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Wahab Shittu presented a witness- Chief Detective of Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), Mr Owobu Chris who told the court how he conducted investigations on the issue of “forged resolution letter” of the then House of Assembly approving the then Gombe State Government permission to obtain a N5 billon loan from Access Bank in 2006.
But when the Defendant’s Counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro began the cross examination of the witness, the judge began to cough.
The judge said he was recently discharged from the hospital, and was not feeling fine.