N4.7bn fraud: Court gives EFCC 7 days to produce witness in Ladoja’s case

Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos
yesterday handed down a 7-day ultimatum to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) within which to produce its next
witness in the on-going trial of a former Oyo State governor,
Senator Rashidi Ladoja and his aide, Waheed Akanbi over an alleged
N4.7 billion fraud.

The order was sequel to failure of the antigraft agency to
produce its witness in court, a situation which stalled further
hearing of the matter.

The judge said the ultimatum was in line with the dictates of
the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which
mandated accelerated hearing of all criminal cases.

Prior to the court’s directive, Ladoja’s lawyer, Bolaji
Onilenla, had drawn the court’s attention to a letter from the
commission indicating that the case would not go on owing to the
non-availability of its witness.

The lawyer while expressing his displeasure at the development
noted that there have been several adjournments of the matter in
the past at the instance of the prosecution.

Onilenla opined that having no legal representation around for
the EFCC when the case was called was an indication that the court
was being taken for a ride.

Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos
yesterday handed down a 7-day ultimatum to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) within which to produce its next
witness in the on-going trial of a former Oyo State governor,
Senator Rashidi Ladoja and his aide, Waheed Akanbi over an alleged
N4.7 billion fraud.

The order was sequel to failure of the antigraft agency to
produce its witness in court, a situation which stalled further
hearing of the matter.

The judge said the ultimatum was in line with the dictates of
the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which
mandated accelerated hearing of all criminal cases.

Prior to the court’s directive, Ladoja’s lawyer, Bolaji
Onilenla, had drawn the court’s attention to a letter from the
commission indicating that the case would not go on owing to the
non-availability of its witness.

The lawyer while expressing his displeasure at the development
noted that there have been several adjournments of the matter in
the past at the instance of the prosecution.

Onilenla opined that having no legal representation around for
the EFCC when the case was called was an indication that the court
was being taken for a ride.