A witness in the ongoing trial of a former Governor of Gombe State and serving senator, Danjuma Goje, Shehu Mohammed Atiku has told a Federal High Court, sitting in Gombe that the ex-governor forged the Resolution of the House and collected N5bn (five billion naira) facility from Access Bank.
Atiku, who is a former Clerk of the Gombe State House of Assembly and one of the three witnesses called by prosecuting counsel, told the court, “My Lord, the said resolution did not emanate from the Gombe State House of Assembly and I was not a signatory to it”.
Atiku, while testifying before the prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shitu added that, “As the Admin Officer of the House, I chair management committee of the House, keep the record of House proceedings and maintain its records”.
It was gathered that the court abruptly halted proceeding and adjourn for further hearing owing to the fracas that ensued as suspected political thugs invaded the court premises and disrupted the proceedings.
It was leant that the thugs also launched attack on the accused persons and others outside the court premises during which the second accused person, Aliyu El-Nafarty and one other person were seriously wounded.
According to the Head, Media and Publicity, of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren added that in the melee, vehicles were vandalized including that of the Defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, (SAN).
He explained that the attackers forced the presiding judge, Justice B. O. Quadri to adjourn to November 25, 2015.
Justice Quadri condemned the attack and directed both counsel to do a report on what happened which he promised to forward to the Chief Judge, Federal High Court for necessary action.
Goje, alongside four other accused persons are being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges of conspiracy, money laundering and embezzlement of funds belonging to the state government.