Corruption: Court Ajourns Nnamani’s Trial On Health Ground

A Federal High Court in
Lagos, last Tuesday, again adjourned the trial of former Enugu State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, on charges of money laundering.
Nnamani and seven others are facing a 105-count charge bordering on money laundering, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought against them.
The other accused persons are Sunday Anyaogu; Rainbownet (Nig) Ltd, Hillgate (Nig) Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile (Nig) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel representing Nnamani, Mr Oluyele Deleano (SAN), prayed the court for another adjournment based on ill health of the accused person.
He informed the court that his client was still unfit to go through the rigours of trial, due to the fact that he had just undergone a Quadriple by-pass (open heart surgery), noting that the surgery had recently caused him chronic chest pain.
He told the court that although there was relative success with regards to the surgery, the accused had to embark on a slow and tideous recovery process and had suffered setbacks in his health.
The counsel said that recent medical analysis revealed that his chronic chest pain might be as a result of his body’s non tolerance to the “pace maker” which had been installed in his heart.
He, urged the court to adjourn the matter to a future date bearing in mind the need for justice to be seen by all as done, adding that there is also the need to ensure that the accused is not prejudiced in his ability to defend the suit.
In response, the prosecutor, Mr Kevin Uzozie, raised a sole issue for determination: whether the accused was capable of understanding court proceedings in spite of his illness.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa, in a short ruling, adjourned the case to November 3 for trial.
The judge held that ill health was an important issue in any criminal trial, especially where the organ affected was the heart.
Yunusa, adjourned the case to afford the accused ample time to recover and be in a state of health to stand trial.

National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh (right), during his visit to Late Odumegwu Ojukwu’s cenotaph in Nnewi last Thursday . With him is the son of Late Ojukwu, Chief Emeka Ojukwu Jr.