CCT commences hearing of case against retired Controller of Custom, Taiwo Owolabi.

ABUJA (CCT’s Report) – Code of Conduct Tribunal recently commenced hearing of a case against a retired Controller of Custom, Rasheed Owolabi Taiyo, after being on sine-die for 3 years, on alleged failure to declare his asset throughout his career as public servant.

When the matter was listed for mention in Abuja, the defense counsel, Festus Ukpe, told the court that he had filed a motion on notice since 27th April, 2016, and he expressed readiness to move the motion.
However, the prosecution counsel, Fadima Kere Ahmad, disclosed to the court that she was just served with the motion from the legal department of the Code of Conduct Bureau, though the Office of the Chairman, CCB, was served with the motion since 27th April, 2016, as stated by the defence counsel.

She however, averred that they were still within the period of 14 days, in which to file their counter affidavit, and she urged the two man-panel to grant her adjournment, to enable the lead prosecution counsel handle the matter, adding that, at present, the case file was not in her possession.

The defence counsel, Mr. Ukpe opposed the application for adjournment.  He said: ‘‘This motion was served to the prosecution on 27th April, 2016, and since then, the prosecution did not take any step to reply the motion.  The position they claimed that they have 14 days to reply is unfounded in law.”

Mr. Ukpe insisted that the matter has been filed since 2013, and the prosecution has failed to open the case.  He therefore urged the Tribunal not to indulge the prosecution any further adjournment, subject to the discretion of the Tribunal.

Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar, assisted by William Agwadza Atedze, ruled in favor of the prosecution, and adjourned to 26th May, 2016, for motion.

The case against Rasheed Taiyo Owolabi was filed before the Tribunal on 6th June, 2012, for alleged failure to declare his asset throughout his service career, contrary to paragraph II (1) of the fifth schedule, part 1 and punishable under paragraph 18 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.