A Lagos High Court sitting at Ikeja, on
Tuesday closed the case of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
in a fuel subsidy fraud case, leaving 13 out of the 15 proposed
prosecution witnesses yet to appear in court.
Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo made the order
closing the prosecution’s case, following a request by EFCC counsel to....
adjourn the matter in order to arrest one of the defendants, Mr.
Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, who had allegedly absconded from trial.
The judge said, “You can’t hold one defendant to a disadvantage because of a situation caused by another defendant.”
The judge said the EFCC could still file
an application to reopen the case before the next trial date if they
were able to arrest the wanted defendant.
He added that prosecution could, in the alternative, file an application to amend the charges to strike out Ogunbambo’s name.
The EFCC is prosecuting Ogunbambo with
Mamman Ali, Christian Taylor and their company – Nasser Oil Services Ltd
– for alleged N4.4bn fuel subsidy fraud.
Mamman is a son of a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Ali.
The trial of the defendants had been stalled for over six months following the continued absence of Ogunbambo from court.
In a short ruling closing the prosecution’s case, the judge said the court had a duty to conduct its activities in a timely manner.
...#NIGERIA!
In a short ruling closing the prosecution’s case, the judge said the court had a duty to conduct its activities in a timely manner.
Onigbanjo said the EFCC could have
amended the charges since the previous proceedings in February following
its inability to apprehend Ogunbambo.
The judge said the court record showed
that the EFCC had not shown enough seriousness to go on with the trial
of the other defendants.
He adjourned the matter till July 14, for Ali to open his defence.
__________________________________________________________________________________...#NIGERIA!
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