NFF'S MISSING MONEY: COURT DECIDES ON MAY 26

An Abuja Chief Magistrate's Court has fixed May 26, to deliver judgment on the theft of 236,000 dollars at the Nigerian Football Federation secretariat.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. David Ochimana, fixed the date after counsel to the accused adopted their written addresses on a no-case submission.

Twelve persons were arraigned on May 5, 2009 on the alleged theft on March 19, 2009 while seven were discharged on Sept. 23, 2009 as the court held that they had no case to answer.

The remaining five were, however, charged with alleged criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, theft and negligence and had since been facing trial.

They are John Adelowo, Lukman Ajiboye, Abutu Ogaji, Isaac Baba and Yakubu Bawa.

Counsel to Adelowo, Mr E.E Itah, urged the court to discharge his client as the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

Itah submitted that the testimony against Adelowo which was based on the purported fingerprint linked to him was baseless.

'We submit that the charge against Adelowo is based on suspicion based on the purported finger print report that links him with the theft.

'We therefore, respectfully submit that from the totality of the evidence adduced by the prosecution, the prosecution has failed woefully to link my client with the theft.

'In this circumstances, the prosecution has not discharged the burden of proof required by law,' Itah added.