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Topic: Judicial Setback for 419 Prosecution in BiafraNigeria

Tunde Onabanjo
Advocate
Advocate # 7

posted

This could turn out to be only a temporary setback. But, an Abuja court has refused to hear a major advance fee fraud (419) case.

quote:
Nigeria's biggest ever fraud trial collapsed yesterday when the judge abruptly dismissed charges against five people accused of masterminding a 242 million dollar scam which brought down a Brazilian bank. The five were charged in February this year on a total of 86 counts related to the "advance fee fraud" for which Nigeria has become notorious around the world and 15 counts of seeking to bribe investigators.

But an Abuja High Court judge, Lawal Gumi, decided yesterday that as the offences had not taken place in Abuja he could have no jurisdiction to try the case. "It is my considered view that the appropriate place for the trial of the accused on those charges is the high court of Lagos. For these reasons ... I do decline and strike out the case from my list," he said.

Curiously, the Abuja judge cites lack of jurisdiction. But, as this is an international case, it may not be so easy for a Lagos court to establish jurisdiction where an Abuja court could not. It is on record that several people have been tried in Abuja for offenses committed in other parts of BiafraNigeria.

[ July 20, 2004, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: Tunde Onabanjo ]

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