Absence of the presiding judge has stalled the hearing into a case of N2.5bn alleged fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Olumo and three others.
Genesis Media Hub gathered information that the Federal High Court, in the State Capital Abeokuta, headed by Justice A.A Okeke who’s in charge of the case, had failed to sit for the fifth consecutive time following the absence of either the judge or the prosecuting counsel.
Recalled that the anti-graft agency, EFCC, had accused Oluomo, Dayo Samuel, and Adeyemo Adedeji before the Federal High Court sitting in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, over alleged diversion of funds.
Read Also:
- JUST IN: EFCC Arrests Ogun Speaker, Oluomo
- IN EFCC DEN: Olakunle Oluomo, Arrested Ogun Speaker Flown To Abuja For Questioning
- The Speakership Position Should Remain In Ifo Constituency — Concerned Citizens Writes Ogun Government, Rally Support For Oluomo
An 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing, forging receipts and signatures, to divert billions of naira from the legislative house were levelled against the trio, while the court had not been able to hear the case since last year.
On November 21, 2022, pre-election matters had made it impossible for the court to commence hearing of the case.
In January 2023, the matter could not be heard because the judge was reportedly indisposed.
While the case could not come up on March 29, 2023, when Justice Abdulmalik was posted out of Ogun State for post-election Tribunal duties.
Also, three months ago, when the case was called, the court could not hear the case following the absence of EFCC’s counsel.
Our correspondent who was at the court on Wednesday was told the court could not sit and the case adjourned till 29th and 30th of May.
On contacting the principal witness in the case, who is also the former deputy speaker, Hon. Dare Kadiri, claimed that he had fled the country over alleged threat to his life and that of his family members.
Kadiri said although his lawyers would continue to attend proceedings in the matter, he had run out of the country for now.
Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned until the 29th and 30th of May.