An Abuja High Court on Tuesday dismissed the `no case submission’ filed by the former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, for alleged corruption charges.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed a 17-count charge against Ogbulafor, Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokoro.
The anti-graft body alleged that they awarded fictitious contracts amounting to N107 million contrary to Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.
Ogbulafor, in his no case submission argued that the prosecution evidence were not sufficient to warrant the trial.
However, Justice Ishaq Bello, in his ruling held that the prosecution established a prima facie case against the accused to warrant the trial.
Bello said: “it is my considered view that on the totality of the evidence, the prosecution established a prima facie case to warrant the accused open his defence. The no case submission fail and is accordingly dismissed,’’ the judge said.
Bello ordered the accused persons to bring all their witnesses on the next adjourned dated.
He also threatened to revoke the bail of the second accused person, Ebilah, who was not in court during the ruling.
He adjourned the case to April 15, for Ogbulafor to open his defence. (NAN)
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