[ad_1]
The absence of prosecution counsel, on Thursday, stalled the trial of Abayomi Alaka, an alleged kingpin of a cultist group, Badoo, charged with N675 million religious cleaning fraud.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN), studies that Alaka was arraigned alongside Morufu Yahaya, Omitogun Ajayi and Ajisegiri Abiodun, on a two-count cost bordering on acquiring cash underneath false pretences, wherein they pleaded not responsible.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo mentioned the file of the courtroom was clear on what occurred on the final date of adjournment.
Taiwo careworn that although the prosecution counsel, Mr Nkereuwem Anana, got here late for the matter, he was current in courtroom.
“My file may be very clear on what occurred on the final adjournment date. Mr Anana was current in courtroom. He was late and the courtroom needed to watch for him, so it was not appropriate that he was not current in courtroom,” she mentioned.
Taiwo adjourned the case till June 21, for the continuation of trial.
A senior counsel from the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC), Mrs Pleasure Amahian, had earlier expressed the anti-graft company’s regrets that Anana, who was dealing with the trial, had been transferred to a different jurisdiction.
Amahian additional pleaded with the courtroom to grant them adjournment to allow the fee assign one other counsel to take over the case file.
The defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), didn’t oppose the plea for adjournment however expressed dismay that EFCC didn’t make preparations to make sure Thursday’s trial was not forestalled.
He added that EFCC didn’t give the defence’s crew replace, and had wasted their time in coming to courtroom.
“I’m shocked that the company will switch counsel with out an sufficient substitute. It isn’t additionally good that they didn’t talk to us that the matter is just not happening right now. If they’d instructed me I can’t be on this courtroom right now,” Ojo mentioned.
The EFCC, nevertheless, objected to Ojo’s place, including that Anana was not in courtroom on the final adjournment date, however {that a} junior counsel from the fee stood in for him.
NAN studies that EFCC alleged that someday in Could 2018, the defendants obtained the sum N675 million from one Dr. and Dr Mrs Lateef Bello, on the pretence of conducting prayers for them for the religious cleaning of their son and the household.
The prosecution additionally submitted that the complainants wrote a petition to the EFCC to report the case after the defendants refused to refund the cash as promised.
The prosecution mentioned the alleged offence contravened Part 410 of the Legal Legal guidelines of Lagos State, 2011.
[ad_2]
Source link
