A Katsina high court has adjourned sitting to February 7 for the commencement of hearing on whether it has jurisdictionto handle the case of alleged financial impropriety brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema while he held sway as the state governor.
The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Maikaita Bako gave the new date after Shema’s leading counsel, Joseph Dawodu, SAN, raised the issue of the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case. He also drew the court’s attention to the need to maintain the “status quo” on Shema’s bail, saying that his (Shema) trial had not commenced and, therefore, should be allowed to enjoy the bail.
During the brief sitting, no charges were read against the former governor and the three others in court.
Dawodu, however, pleaded with the court to resolve the issue of the jurisdiction first, before entertaining any other issue. On their part, the EFCC team, led by Jibrin Otekpa, SAN, and the Katsina state Attorney General, Ahmed El Manzur, did not object to the issue of jurisdiction raised by Shema’s counsel, but argued against the enjoyment of the bail.
Consequently, Justice Ibrahim Maikaita Bako, while giving his ruling, fixed February 7, 2016, for the commencement of hearing on the issue of the jurisdiction of the court to handle the case. Former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, who had arrived the court at 8.50 am along with his supporters, left the court premises after its pronouncement at about 11a.m.
Shema and his team of supporters had a brief stop-over at the state party secretariat where he was unable to alight from the vehicle that conveyed them, to enable him express his appreciation to party loyalists in the state. Meanwhile, security remained tight within the court premises, as well as around major roads in the state capital and environs.
