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Justice Hakeem Abiru of an Ikeja High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application brought by the former Intercontinental Bank Managing Director, Erastus Akingbola.
Akingbola and an associate, Bayo Dada, are standing trial on allegations of theft to the tune of N47.1 billion in a case filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former bank chief, through his counsel Chief Felix Fagboungbe, said in his application that EFCC had denied him access to documents that would assist him in his defence.
In the application, Akingbola had asked the court to compel the prosecution to allow him access to the original copies of the documents.
He said it would be impossible for the trial proceed if the original copies of the documents were not made availale to him.
Objecting, EFCC counsel, Mr E.C. Okala, said that the application was unreasonable.
He said that the prosecution had already offered the defence team photo copies of the documents.
“Their demand to remove the original (copies) is impossible and unreasonable. It will make it impossible for other persons to make use of it in future.
“The defence has no right to remove or demand for the original (copies). It is only a ploy to waste the time of the court and delay cross examination as planned today,” he said.
Following the arguments, Abiru dismissed the application, saying it had failed in its entirety.
He held that the EFCC had already offered copies of the documents to the defendants.
The judge adjourned the case till Feb. 29 for continuation of the trial.
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