BY Bolanle Olabimtan
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has insisted that the death certificate of Grace Tiaga, a former director of legal services at the ministry of petroleum resources, must be presented in court.
Taiga was arrested and charged to court by the EFCC over allegations of receiving payments from Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) to skew the controversial 20-year gas supply and processing agreement (GSPA) against Nigeria.
The EFCC alleged that Taiga received illegal payments from Marshpearl Limited, a company controlled by the owners of P&ID, through her daughter.
After retirement, she reportedly continued receiving payments from P&ID directors.
She was also accused of failing to follow due process in giving legal advice on the GSPA.
On September 20, 2019, a federal high court in Abuja remanded her at the Suleja prison after she pleaded “not guilty” to an eight-count charge of fraud brought against her by the EFCC.
Taiga was later granted bail while the charge against her was amended to 13 counts.
During the trial, the prosecution called eight witnesses to testify against the defendant and closed its case on February 27, 2023.
The court asked the defendant to open her defence.
When the case came up on November 4, 2023, Daniel Alumun, counsel to Taiga, told the court that the defendant passed away 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.
The lawyer prayed the court to dismiss the case against Tiaga.
However, the EFCC counsel asked that a death certificate should be presented in court in compliance with the relevant laws.
Olukayode Adeniyi, the presiding judge, directed that the certificate be produced before the court and adjourned the case until January 24.
At the resumed session on Wednesday, the defendant’s counsel told the court that the death certificate was still not ready.
He prayed the court for more time to enable him to get the document.
The prosecuting counsel insisted that the death certificate must be brought to the court as stipulated by the law before a decision can be taken.
Adeniyi adjourned the matter to March 6 for a further report on the death certificate.
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