Alleged fraud: Lulu’s lawyer considers no-case submission

Respite seems in sight for embattled former president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, and three of his former colleagues, Amanze Uchegbulam, Taiwo Ogunjobi, and Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who have been standing trial for the past five years.

The quartet has been standing trial over alleged mismanagement of the resources of the federation when they ruled at the Glass House. At the resumed hearing yesterday at the Court 8 of the Federal High Court, Abuja, counsel to the accused, Akin Olujimi (SAN), said he will make “a no case submission” to the trial judge, Justice F. S. Chukwu.

According to the lead counsel, the two witnesses that have testified so far against the accused since they have been on trial for the past five years have not been able to prove their case “beyond reasonable doubt.”

The Counsel further argued that the petitions for which Lulu and three other NFF officials are being tried did not follow due process, as they were never queried for their conduct nor their attention drawn to the allegations made against them in line with due administrative process.

Olujimi also posited that the then Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Ibrahim Bio’s report to the Presidency in 2010 did not follow due process. Granting the request, Justice Chukwu gave the lawyer leave to make his submission within 21 days, while equally granting the plaintiff’s legal team another 21 days to file their response. The case has been slated for September 23 for further hearing.