The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has taken over an alleged forgery case instituted against a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abbati Abdulhameed, and another individual by the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stated this on Monday when the AGF’s legal team orally informed him that the AGF had applied to take over the matter.
Recall that Abdulhameed and his co-defendant, Babangida Abdullahi, were arraigned by the police before the court on March 13, 2023, on a 10-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/555/2023, bordering on alleged document forgery.
At the time of their arraignment in March last year, the defendants, along with others said to be at large, were alleged to have conspired to commit forgery on or about October 23, 2023.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges, paving the way for trial.
At the resumed proceedings on Monday, the police legal team announced their appearance.
“You (AGF) have taken over the case, you have taken over the case,” Justice Ekwo responded.
“Case adjourned to May 19, 2025, for report,” the judge ruled.
Justice Ekwo further stated that at the next adjourned date, he would assess whether the AGF was ready to proceed with the trial.
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc.) is a non-bank financial institution wholly owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In February 2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/1686/2023, ordered the interim forfeiture of the money.
The judge directed interested parties to show cause within fourteen days why a final order of forfeiture should not be made in favor of the Federal Government of Nigeria.