9th March, 2011
An Abuja High Court on Wednesday summoned Alhaji Mohammed Bakari of the Urban Shelter Ltd to appear on April 14 to take his plea in the 180 million dollars Halliburton bribery case.
The EFCC had on December 17 filed a nine-count charge against Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, a former Federal Permanent Secretary, Bakari, Intercellular Nigeria Ltd, Sherwood Petroleum Ltd and Tristar Investment.
Justice Abubakar Umar gave the order after the EFCC Counsel, Mr Godwin Obla, told him that the accused was proving difficult to be served with papers for his arraignment.
Umar told the prosecution counsel that after the order, if Bakari refused to appear, the court would issue a warrant of arrest on him.
Earlier, Obla had told the court that after the judge granted the EFCC leave on March 3 to arraign the accused, the commission made several attempts to serve Bakari to appear before it, but failed.
Obla said all other accused involved in the alleged bribery scam had been served.
“The second accused (Bakari) has been proving difficult to track down. He is evading the service of the papers.
“The commission wants the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused, if that is the only way we can ensure that he appears in court,’’ Obla said.
The judge ordered all the accused to appear before him on April 14 for proper arraignment. (NAN)
