Mrs. Maimuna Aliyu,

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence Commission (ICPC) on Thursday prayed the FCT High Court, Jabi, to issue a warrant of arrest on Mrs Maimuna Aliyu for contempt of court.

Aliyu, mother of Maryam Sanda, who allegedly stabbed her husband, Bilyaminu Halilu to death on Nov.19 was accused of misappropriating N57 million as the Executive Director of Aso Savings by the ICPC.

Mr Akponimisingha Ekoi, the Prosecuting Counsel to the ICPC, said that the conduct of the defendant by not appearing in court for the third time was a slap on the court.

He said that her conduct amounted to disrespect for the court.

Ekoi said that the ICPC was constrained to ask for a bench warrant to bring the defendant to court.

“In this event, we need a bench warrant because her action has constrained us to ask for it,” he said.

The accused, who is a co defendant at the trial of her daughter, however, appeared at Court 32, where her daughter’s case was also being tried.

He said that the defence counsel made an undertaking before the court at the last adjourned date that he would bring the defendant to the court but failed to do so.

Mr Jairus Amos, the Counsel to the defendant explained that the defendant was in another court room in the same premises at the time the case was being tried.

He however pointed out that the offence at Court 32 was a capital offence which the defendant must be present  instead of appearing at Court 16, which is her trial court.

He said that the defendant could not be in two courts at the same time, considering the fact that the two courts had to sit at 9:00 a.m.

Justice Maro Nasir however noted that the court the defendant chose to attend was junior to her and called on the ICPC to do the needful to ensure she appeared at the next adjourned date.

She adjourned the case until Jan. 11, 2018.