Gen. Useni, Ex-Abuja Minister, Finally Facing Trial For Graft By SaharaReporters

Thirteen years after he was first docked before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on charges of abuse of office and non-declaration of assets, the trial of former Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Minister, Gen Jeremiah Useni (Rtd), resumed Tuesday before the Code of Conduct tribunal.

Useni is alleged to have used his office as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to acquire mind-boggling landed properties in choice locations of the Abuja metropolis.

The former military chief held the position during the regime of late maximum dictator, General Sani Abacha, under whose regime Nigeria’s commonwealth was often privatized and looted with reckless abandon. Useni was also alleged to have failed to declare his assets on assumption of office as well as on leaving office as the FCT minister. The retired General however, did not appear in person as statutorily required in criminal proceedings, and has never appeared before the court at any time during the 13 years the matter has lingered before the court. The Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, who led two other members of the panel, could not hide his shock over the discovery that the former minister has been treating the Tribunal with disdain which accounted for his refusal to grace the court with his appearance.

"The accused person has never appeared in person in this matter as required by the law. It has been a tale of one excuse or the other from the accused person,” the chairman observed.

Explaining the General’s absence from the court, his lawyer, Mr. Victor Odjenu, said his client was on a "medical emergency" as at Monday night when he informed him of today’s sitting. He presented a medical report to the court, showing the health challenges of the former Minister. He could not however tell the court the specific hospital where former minister was recuperating, and the Tribunal Chairman thereafter ordered that the General must appear before it at the next adjournment as the allegations preferred against him are criminal in nature.

Mr. Odjenu further told the Tribunal that his presence was with regards to an application filed on behalf of the former minister and dated 15 May, 2013 as well as for the preliminary objection served on him by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Simon Egede.

In the application, Gen. Useni is asking the Tribunal to make an order directing the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), to hand over some property titles confiscated from him, to the custody of the tribunal pending the determination of the substantive suit. President Olusegun Obasanjo had during his tenure constituted a probe panel which investigated some persons, including Useni, and title documents to some properties suspected to have been fraudulently acquired by the former minister were confiscated.

"It is this tribunal that can make an order seizing the title documents of the confiscated properties and forfeiture of such property. We therefore urge the court to make an order that the title documents of the property be put in custody of the tribunal," Mr. Odjenuurged the tribunal.

In a preliminary objection to the application, Mr.Egede challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to adjudicate on the issue of the confiscated title documents. After listening to their submissions, the Chairman of the Tribunal adjourned the matter to July 16 for ruling on the preliminary objection.