A Federal High Court seating in Jalingo Taraba State capital has granted application by Economic Crime Commission EFCC to summon the former acting governor of Taraba state Alhaji Sani Abubaka Danladi who is the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive Congress APC in the state to appear before the court in December.
The former acting governor Sani Danladi, former Speaker Taraba state house of assembly Mark Useni and former minister for Labour and productivity Joel Ikenya are been prosecuted by the EFCC for conspiracy and violation of financial regulations, which falls within section 113 and 114 of the Nigerian constitution.
During a court session at the Federal High Court Jalingo on Tuesday, two defendants accused by the EFCC Hon. Mark Useni and Joel Ikenya were present while the former acting governor Sani Danladi was absent even though his counsel were present in the court.
The case was for mentioning, during the proceedings, the Council for EFCC Bar Ahamad Muntaka applied that the presiding judge Justice Steven Pam to issue summons to the former acting governor to appear before the court for the continuation of the case.
The application was unanimously agreed by both the counsel to Mark Useni and that of Joel Ikenya and Sanni.
While ruling on the application, the presiding judge Justice Steven Pam directed service of summons on Sani Abubaka Danladi to appear before the court on the 5th of December 2018 for mentioning of the case, the case was therefore adjourned to the 5th of December 2018.
Reacting to the development after the court session, the council to EFCC Barr Ahamad Muntaka said his application or summon on Sani Abubaka was base on his absent in the court on the first day of mentioning the case which was fixed on the 23rd Tuesday, October 2018.
He said if Sani Abubakar refuses to appear before the court on the adjourned date, the commission will have no option than to apply for his arrest.
Reacting to the absence of Sani Danladi in court, the counsel to Sani Danladi Bar. Yakubu Maikasuwa revealed that his client was not dully served with the authentic date of appearance by the court.
He promises to communicate and ensure the appearance of his client to court on the fixed date.
It will be recalled that the former acting governor of Taraba State Sani Abubaka Danladi, the former Speaker Taraba State house of assembly Mark Bako Useni and the former minister for Labour and productivity Sen. Joel Ikenya were accused by the EFCC of an alleged collection of 450,000,000 during 2015 presidential campaign.
