By DAUD OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA- Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has slammed fresh 27 corruption charges against former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel in addition to a-16 count charge earlier instituted by the commission against him, bringing the total charges to 43.

This came as the commission declared that the removal of its former Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, will not affect the cases against Daniel and other former governors facing corruption charges in courts.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, counsel to EFCC; Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that he filed additional 27 count charges against Daniel and had served the accused person a copy of the charges.

Confirming the receipt of the fresh charges, Daniel’s lead counsel, Taiwo Osipintan, SAN, said his client was served a copy of the new charges 30 minutes before the commencement of the proceeding, urging the court to give his client time to study them.

Osipintan accompanied by two other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, Kunle Kalejaiye and Mrs. Titilayo Akinlawon, said “the charges have been amended and we have been served. The charge and the proof of evidence are in two volumes with 1,068 pages, submitting that, EFCC was not ready for prosecution.

He however, pleaded for adjournment, saying, “As at Friday, EFCC was still arresting and interrogating the witnesses. One was interrogated last Friday November 25 by 1; pm. We want to give them time. On our side, we also need to sit down and thoroughly digest the charges. We are ready for trial. They have shifted the goal post and it is likely that they will shift it again. If it takes them one month to prepare the charges we also need one month. We were served less than 30 minutes, we seek an adjournment.”

Reacting to the submission of Daniel’s counsel, EFCC counsel said there was no requirement of formal application as part of the previous charges filed against Daniel formed majority of the whole charges, urging the court to grant his application of the amended charges.

In his ruling, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje adjourned the matter till January 19 and 20, 2012 for commencement of trial.

Meantime, the Commission has said that the removal of its former Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri,will not affect the cases against Daniel and other former governors .

Speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, after the court adjourned the corruption case against Daniel, Jacobs said Waziri was not an institution and could not affect the cases against former governors including former governor Daniel.

According to him, “EFCC is an institution; an institution has been created, so it’s built around the institution, not around the individual. I don’t think, there should be any problem about that. It can never affect the cases” and maintained that the commission was ready for the trial of now fixed for January 19 and 20 next year.

He ruled out possibility of bringing additional charges against Daniel