By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—An Abuja High Court at Jabi has deferred the arraignment of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Saleh Gambo and two other top officials of the apex court accused of complicity in N2.2 billion fraud, till December 15.

The trial, which was to commence yesterday, was adjourned, following the absence of the second defendant, Sharif Abdulrahman, in court.

Abdulrahman, who is currently the Deputy Director of Finance at the Supreme Court, was said to have been hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital.

Equally charged before the court over the alleged fraud was the Assistant Director of Finance at the apex court, Rilwanu Lawal.

The trio were to enter their pleas to a nine-count criminal charge the Federal Government entered against them before trial Justice A.B. Mohammed.

However, when the matter was called up for arraignment, counsel to the 2nd defendant, Mr. Garba Tetengi,SAN, told the court that his client was indisposed to attend the proceeding, considering that he was currently on admission in the hospital.

Tetengi, therefore, pleaded with the judge to adjourn the matter till a later date.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, has engaged a private prosecutor, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, to handle the case.

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Umar, who notified the court of the development, said the AGF’s action was backed by section 174(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

While assuming control of the case-file, Adeogun-Philips, who is a former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, ICC, expressed  disappointment that trial of the three accused apex court officials could not kick-start as scheduled.

He further noted that counsel to the 2nd defendant, Tetengi, SAN, failed to adduce any document showing that his client was, indeed, on admission in any hospital, as well as the ailment for which he was hospitalised.

Nevertheless, Justice Mohammed stressed that the matter could not proceed in the absence of the 2nd defendant since the three accused persons were jointly charged by FG.

While Mr. Abdulhakeem Mustapha, SAN, announced his appearance for the Supreme Court Chief Registrar, Saleh, the 3rd accused person was also represented by another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. I.K. Sanusi.

The defendants were specifically alleged to have diverted N2.2billion belonging to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, into personal bank accounts domiciled at United Bank For Africa Plc with account number 2027642863.