Judge orders NBC DG to appear in court even if on a stretcher

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the director general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Kawu, to appear before it in April, even if it requires him being brought in a stretcher.

Mr Kawu is being tried for allegedly diverting over N2.5 billion meant for the digital switch over system introduced by the federal government.

He is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission (ICPC) alongside Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited and the company’s chief operating officer respectively.

The commission, in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its spokesperson Rashida Okoduwa, said Justice F. O. Giwa gave the latest order last Friday.

Kawu had failed to appear before the court as his lawyers said he was on admission at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State.

His lawyer requested adjournment of the case, prompting the judge to agree on the term that the NBC boss must appear in court on the next adjourned date.

“You must ensure that your client is in court even if he has to be on a stretcher; I am agreeing to this adjournment taking into cognizance his health issues, but the trial needs to go on, you must ensure he is in court next time,” Giwa said.

“The judge further ordered ICPC to investigate the medical certificate and report back to the court,” the statement said.

End

Source: QED.ng