The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday accused the defence counsel to the accused persons in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over N8 billion naira scam of delaying and frustrating the prosecution.
Speaking at the hearing of the suit with charge number FHC/Ib/31c/15 at the Federal High Court, Ibadan on Friday, EFCC counsel, Barrister Olu Jacobs who was represented by Tayo Olukotun, told the court to continue with the case despite ploy to frustrate the hearing of the case.
It would be recalled that counsel to the accused persons, Barrister Olalekan Ojo had accused the Judge of bias in the bail applications when he stated that "second and third accused persons seems to have been deeply involved" in the allegation levelled against them.
At the sitting, the trial judge granted the application for the stay of proceedings in the case involving the three Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials and five officials of the First bank and others that allegedly defrauded the CBN.
While granting the application filed by Barrister Olalekan Ojo counsel to the second and third accused persons, the judge stated that it would be tantamount to the removing of rug off the foots of the Court of Appeal justices that are to hear the allegation of bias which the counsel to accused persons had raised in his ruling on the bail applications if he continue with the case.
Justice Faji had earlier stated that "it is only in Nigeria that a counsel can accuse a judge of bias and go scott free if eventually he cannot proof the allegation unlike United Kingdom and other countries where such a lawyer is sanction if he fails to substantiate it."
Although some counsel like Barrister Michael Lana , Barrister F.Edema ,Barrister Adebayo and many other declared the readiness to go into trial but Justice Faji noted that he cannot grant their application until the Appeal Court determined the bias allegation levelled against him by Ojo. .
The accused bankers that were arraigned yesterday before the trial judge included Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philips,(CBN staff), Isaq Akano (a.k.a Isiaka), Ayodele Festus Adeyemi, Oyebanji Akeem, Ayodeji Alatishe and Ajiwe Sunday Adegoke (First Bank staff ).
It would be recalled that the EFCC on the invitation of the CBN had charged all the accused persons to court due to the roles they played in defrauding the apex bank over eight billion naira mutilated money meant to be destroyed between 2010 and 2014.
According to the charge sheet that you Kolawole Babalola , Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philips , Isiaq Akano (a.k.a Isiaka) , Ayodele Festus Adeyemi, Oyebanji Akeem, Ayodeji Aleshe, Ajiwe Sunday Adegoke, and Idowu Oguntade now at large between 2009 and 2011 in Ibadan within the.jurisdiction of this court ,with intents to defraud ,conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit including the CBN of Nigeria deliver property to the First bank of Nigeria to wit an aggregate sum of one billion, two hundred and fifty million as against the actual amount of three hundred and eighty nine million, two hundred and ninety-six thousand, five hundred and thirty-five naira, on the false pretence that the 142 boxes containing supposed mutilated currencies which were taken to the Ibadan branch of the CBN contained a total sum of one billion ,two hundred and fifty million and thereby committed and offence contrary to section 8(a) of the constitution of Nigeria 2004.
