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| Alao-Akala |
The trial of former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala and two others, in alleged N11.5billion fraud has been adjoined till June 29.They are being tried at the state High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Other defendants in the state include a former Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Senator Hosea Agboola; and an Ibadan-based businessman, Femi Babalola.
They are facing an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, awarding a contract without budgetary provision, obtaining by false pretence, acquiring property with money derived from an illegal act, and concealing the owner of such property.
Justice Muniru Owolabi also ruled on the accused person’s application to allow a pending interlocutory appeal at the Supreme Court on the matter.
The judge dismissed the application as being tantamount to asking for a stay of proceedings, which is against the spirit of the administration of criminal justice.
He said it was also asking the prosecution to put his witnesses in the box for commencement of trial.
EFCC counsel, Dr. B. Ubi, while seeking leave of the court pleaded for an adjournment to enable him assemble his witnesses.
He cited exigencies of time, cost and distance for the absence of his witnesses in court.
Counsel to the first to third respondents aligned with the submission of the prosecution for adjournment.
He, however informed the court of the readiness of the accused to go ahead with the defence, as against the unpreparedness of the EFCC and its prosecution team.
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Other defendants in the state include a former Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Senator Hosea Agboola; and an Ibadan-based businessman, Femi Babalola.
They are facing an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, awarding a contract without budgetary provision, obtaining by false pretence, acquiring property with money derived from an illegal act, and concealing the owner of such property.
Justice Muniru Owolabi also ruled on the accused person’s application to allow a pending interlocutory appeal at the Supreme Court on the matter.
The judge dismissed the application as being tantamount to asking for a stay of proceedings, which is against the spirit of the administration of criminal justice.
He said it was also asking the prosecution to put his witnesses in the box for commencement of trial.
EFCC counsel, Dr. B. Ubi, while seeking leave of the court pleaded for an adjournment to enable him assemble his witnesses.
He cited exigencies of time, cost and distance for the absence of his witnesses in court.
Counsel to the first to third respondents aligned with the submission of the prosecution for adjournment.
He, however informed the court of the readiness of the accused to go ahead with the defence, as against the unpreparedness of the EFCC and its prosecution team.
In this article: