The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday insisted that the death certificate of a former director of legal services at the petroleum ministry, Grace Taiga, be produced before an Abuja High Court.
Taiga is standing trial before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi on allegations bordering on bribery in the controversial Gas Supply Processing Agreement (GSPA) between Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The EFCC sued her on an amended 13-count charge bordering on bribery, among others.
The anti-graft commission alleged that Taiga received bribe through her offshore bank account in signing the controversial GPSA
EFCC also alleged that the former director violated various laws by entering into the Agreement without prior approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and a certificate of no objection to the contract from the Bureau of Public Enterprise (PBE).
She, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations preferred against her.
The deceased was first arraigned on Sept. 20, 2019, before the court in the case marked FCT/HC/CR/504/19, on an eight-court charge.
The EFCC first amended the charge against the defendant on Oct. 3, 2020, to 11 counts, and later further amended it to 13 counts, on Jan. 10, 2021.
The prosecution called eight witnesses to testify against the defendant and closed its case on Feb. 27, 2023, after which the court directed Tiaga to open her defense.
At the hearing of the case on Nov. 4, 2023, counsel for Taiga, Daniel Alumun, told the court that the defendant died on August 1, 2023, at a hospital in Abuja.
Alumun tendered a letter titled, “Hospital Death Declaration”, from Primus International Super Speciality Hospital, Karu New Extension, Abuja, to notify the court of Taiga’s demise.
He thereafter urged the court to dismiss the charge.
EFCC counsel, Mohammed Hussain, however, insisted that a death certificate must be brought before the court by the defense in compliance with the law before the court could dismiss the case.
Justice Adeniyi then directed that a death certificate be produced before the court.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, the defendant’s counsel informed the court that the death certificate was not ready.
Justice Adeniyi adjourned the matter until March 6, for a further report on the death certificate.
