4th August, 2011
An Ikeja High Court in Lagos has ordered immediate arrest of former wife the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Hajia Asabe.
The court’s order was sequel to a three-count criminal charge filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
But since the suit number LD/57C/2011 was filed on 4 March, the accused has refused to appear before the court to answer the charge of issuance of dud cheque and intention to defraud preferred against her.
The filing of the charge was a result of a petition written to the anti-graft agency by the law firm of O.R. Kalu and Associates on behalf of a Lagos businessman, Chief Stanley Obuma Ekezie and his company, Stamp-Twins Investment Nigeria Limited.
The petitioner alleged that sometimes in November 2008, Hajia Asabe Yar’Adua approached Chief Stanley Ekezie, negotiated and agreed to buy a Hummer H3 SUV for N7.8 million. She paid the N4.550 million and entered into a written and signed agreement, pledging to pay the balance latest by 21 November, 2008, while she persuaded the petitioner to release the vehicle to her and issued a post-dated cheque for N3.250 million with the maturity date being 21 November, 2008.
When the post-dated cheque was presented for payment, it was returned unpaid as there was no sufficient credit in her account.
Hajia Asabe was later alleged to be using President Umaru Yar’Adua’s name to threaten Chief Ekezie and since then, she has become elusive and evasive.
In view of the continued absence of the accused person in court, EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Mr. Kayode Oni, urged the court to issue a bench warrant against her and the court, while acceding to the request, ordered the accused be arrested.