Wabara, Others to Face Trial Over Budget Scandal

The Supreme Court has ordered former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara to return to an Abuja High Court to face trial over alleged 55 million naira bribe-for-budget deals.
It would be recalled that on April 11, 2005, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Senator Wabara and four others before Justice Hussein Mukhtar of an Abuja High Court for allegedly obtaining money to facilitate easy passage of the budget of the Federal Ministry of Education in 2005.
The scandal which was made public by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in a nationwide broadcast, led to the sacking of then Education Minister; Professor Fabian Osuji and removal of Senator Wabara as Senate President.
They were accused of committing offenses contrary to sections 9 and punishable under Section 8 of the ICPC Act.
The apex court in unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad set aside the judgement of the Appellate court which quashed the charges against the accused persons.