The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has washed its hands off the corruption trial of Danjuma Goje, lawmaker representing Gombe Central at the Senate.
The development is coming barely 24 hours after Mr Goje stepped down from the race of Senate President on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Buhari whose administration has vowed to rid the country of corrupt elements told the lawmaker to withdraw and endorse the candidacy of Ahmed Lawan.
Mr Lawan is the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for the top job at the legislative arm of government.
At the resumed hearing of the corruption trial of the Gombe lawmaker on Friday at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the state capital of Plateau, Wahab Shittu, the legal practitioner of the anti-graft agency notified of his intention to hand over the case.
Mr Shittu handed over to one Pius Asika, from the Ministry of Justice, according to Sahara Reporters.
The news medium reports that the president intends to suppress the corruption charges preferred against Goje, who is accusing of stealing N5 billion between September and November 2010, by having the Justice Ministry take over the case, stall it and ultimately quash it.
It said this formed the basis of discussion between messrs Goje and Buhari at the Thursday meeting brokered by Nasir El-rufai, Kaduna State governor.
Chris Uche and Paul Erokoro both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and counsels to Mr Goje were at the Friday’s court sitting where the handover was made by the anti-graft agency that has been handling the case for over 8 years now.
The case has been adjourned to June 21 when Asika is expected to make further submission.
