EFCC Press
Release
Justice
Adebisi Akinlade of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere, on Wednesday
September 17, 2014 ordered that Abdulahi Alao, a defendant standing trial in a
N2.6billion scam, instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, should pay a sum of N50, 000 as fine to the EFCC, for the
failure of his counsel to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
A
defence team led by Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) failed to show up in court on
Wednesday, for the cross examination of a prosecution witness, Laval Ahmed, who
also doubles as the principal witness in the ongoing trial of Alao and his
company, Axenergy Limited for their alleged involvement in a N2.6 billion oil
subsidy scam, under the Petroleum Support Fund, for a purported importation of
33.3million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Oluwatosin
Dawodu who held brief for Osipitan, prayed the court to adjourn to a later date,
explaining that Osipitan was absent because he had to attend a conference. But
the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, immediately prayed the court not to
grant the application. “This application is intended to put wool in the eye of
my Lord, I therefore urge my Lord to use the sledge hammer of justice to
prevent that from happening. And that the cost of transportation of the witness
be taken over by the defence counsel,” he said.
Justice
Akinlade, who had earlier insisted that Dawodu must go ahead with the cross
examination of the witness, however granted the adjournment, which according to
her, was necessary to enable the defendant get deserved fairness and proper
representation. She also ordered that the transportation cost of the
prosecution witness be paid to him before the next adjourned date.
She
subsequently adjourned the matter till October 8, 2014 for continuation of
trial.
Wilson
Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
18th September,
2014
No comments:
Post a Comment