The director general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Kawu, has been ordered by a federal high court in Abuja to appear before it in April, irrespective of his health condition. This request was made in a ruling on Friday by the presiding judge as asking Mr. Ishaq Kawu’s lawyers to produce him “even if he has to come to court on a stretcher” in April when the court will be sitting to hear his case.
The NBC boss, Mr. Ishaq Kawu and others are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission (ICPC) and are currently facing trial at the a federal high court in Abuja for allegedly diverting funds meant for the digital switch over system introduced by the Nigerian government.
Mr. Ishaq Kawu was arraigned alongside Dipo Onifade and Lucky Omoluwa, Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited respectively for an alleged complicity in the mismanagement of the N2.5 billion seed grant, was unable to appear before Justice F. O. Giwa, saying he was on admission at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State.
According to the Mr. Ishaq Kawu, “The defendant was on admission following recent medical challenges from a surgery he underwent a decade ago.” He therefore prayed the court to adjourn to a future date. The lawyer representing the ICPC, Henry Emore, did not oppose the application for adjournment but requested the court to note the repeated adjournments at the instance of the accused.
The presiding judge F. O. Giwa in her ruling granted an adjournment but request Mr. Ishaq Kawu’s counsel to ensure that he produce him before the court in April. A statement from the commission on Tuesday, signed by its spokesperson Rashida Okoduwa, said the latest order on Mr Kawu was made by Justice Giwa.
Just Giwa gave the order for Mr. Ishaq Kawu to appear before the court by saying, “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.” The judge also ordered the ICPC to investigate the medical certificate and report back to the court on the health status of Mr. Ishaq Kawu.
