The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 8, for judgment in the trial of Emmanuella Eteta Ita, Head of the Stakeholders Unit at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and her company, Surestart School Limited, over alleged N2 billion fraud.
Justice Giwa Ogunbanjo announced the date after adopting the final written addresses of both prosecution and defence at Tuesday’s sitting.
Eteta and her company are facing 25 counts bordering on criminal misappropriation, diversion, breach of trust, and money laundering.
Defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the charges, insisting that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
He also prayed that the N19.5 million earlier remitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be refunded to enable his client to pay back the lenders.
On his part, prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, argued that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and asked the court to convict the defendants.
He also asked the court to strike out what he described as the defence’s attempt to reargue issues already canvassed in its final address.
After hearing both sides, Justice Ogunbanjo reserved judgment until December 8, 2025.
