P&ID: Court strikes out case against Grace Taiga after receiving her death certificate

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court  sitting in Maitama has struck out the criminal case against Grace Taiga, former director of legal services at the ministry of petroleum resources.

Taiga was arrested and charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (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.

Tiaga 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 defendant’s counsel urged the court to dismiss the charge.

However, Mohammed Hussain, EFCC counsel, insisted that a death certificate must be brought before the court by the defence.

Hussain said the request was in compliance with the law before the court could dismiss the case.

Olukayode Adeniyi, the presiding judge, directed that a death certificate be produced before the court.

At the resumed court session on Wednesday, counsel to the defendant brought the certified true copy of the death certificate.

The lawyer told the court that he had already served the prosecution as well as the court. 

Alumun added that the death was registered on February 29, 2024, with the National Population Commission (NPC). 

Consequently, the charge was struck out.