March 25 has been fixed by the Federal Capital Territory High Court for the trial of a former Chief Executive Officer, State House Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr. Fortune Fiberesima.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had planned to arraign Fiberesima before Justice Peter Affren on Tuesday on corruption charges.
The judge, however, fixed March 25 for the arraignment before the defendant’s plea could be taken.
Fiberesima, according to a statement by the anti-graft agency, is alleged to have abused his position as the Chief Physician to the President in 2012 to award contracts to a company where he has interests.
“The defendant, who is also known as, Fortunate David and David Thank God Fiberesima, was to be docked by the EFCC on six counts of money laundering and abuse of office,” the statement read.
“However, when the charge was to be read to the defendant for him to enter his plea, Justice Affen observed that, ‘all charges are under the ICPC Act not that of the EFCC’.”
The EFCC said the judge wondered why it was taking over cases meant for the Indpendent and Corrupt Practices Commission.
“Efforts by the prosecuting counsel, Y. Y. Tarfa to explain that according to Section 7(2) of the EFCC Act, the Commission was mandated, empowered and charged to “enforce all other law or regulations relating to economic and financial crimes” were, however, turned down by the judge, who insisted that the charge be either amended or transferred to the appropriate authority for prosecution,” the statement added.
Affren subsequently adjourned the case
