The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday insisted that a former director of legal services at the petroleum ministry, Grace Taiga’ s death certificate be produced before the court.
The insistence of the EFCC for the production of Taiga’s death certificate was argued by the Commission’s counsel Mohammed Hussain before an FCT High Court sitting in Abuja
Taiga was standing trial before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi on allegations bordering on bribery in the controversial Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) between Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
She was dragged before the court by the EFCC on an amended 13-count charge bordering on bribery, amongst others.
In the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that Taiga received bribe through her offshore bank account in signing the controversial GPSA
EFCC further claimed that she violated various laws by entering into the Agreement without prior approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and a certificate of no objection to the contract from the Bureau of Public Enterprise (PBE).
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegations preferred against her.
Taiga was first arraigned on September 20, 2019 before the court in the case, marked, FCT/HC/CR/504/19, on an eight-counts charge .
The EFCC first amended the charge against the defendant on October 3, 2020 to 11-counts and later further amended it to 13-counts on January 10, 2021.
The prosecution called eight witnesses to testify against the defendant and closed its case on February 27, 2023, then the court directed the defendant to open her defence.
At the hearing of the case on November 4, 2023, however, counsel for Taiga, Daniel Alumun, informed the court that the defendant passed on on August 1, 2023 at a hospital in Abuja.
Thereafter, Alumun tendered a letter, titled, “Hospital Death Declaration”, from Primus International Super Speciality Hospital, Karu New Extension, Abuja, to notify the court of the demise of Taiga.
In view of the unfortunate development, the defendant counsel, urged the court to dismiss the charge.
But the EFCC counsel Mohammed Hussain however, insisted that a death certificate must be brought before the court by the defence in compliance with the law before the court could dismiss the case.
Justice Adeniyi then directed that a death certificate be produced before the court.
He then adjourned the case until today (Wednesday) for compliance with the law by the defence.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, the defendant counsel told the court that the death certificate was not ready.
He prayed the court to allow him more time to get it.
Responding, the prosecuting counsel insisted that the certificate must be brought to the court as stipulated by the law before decision can be taken.
Justice Adeniyi then adjourned until March 6, for further report on the death certificate.
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