ABUJA, March 26, (THWILL) - The eagerly anticipated trial of three suspects accused of complicity in the $180 million Halliburton bribery scandal was brought to an abrupt end on Monday, when Justice Abubakar Umar of the Abuja High Court dismissed the case in protest of failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign the suspects despite filing a nine-count charge against them.

Justice Umar lambasted the EFCC, saying he could no longer condone its indifferent attitude to the prosecution of accused persons, and warning it to desist from the practice of obtaining leave of court to arraign suspects without ensuring its preparedness to proceed with the trial.

The three persons standing trial Are Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, former permanent secretary in the Office of the Head of Service; Abdullahi Bello, a retired Air vice Marshal; and Mohammed Bakari of Urban Shelter Limited .

Counsel to the EFCC, Ms Kauna Pindam had, for the umpteenth time, prayed the court to Grant the Commission another adjournment to enable it arraign the accused persons.

But Umar refused; reminding Ms. Pindam of a similar order he gave o... Full Article