Imported User:
A livid Justice Habeeb Abiru of a Lagos High Court, at Ikeja yesterday, hurriedly adjourned the trial of former managing director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola because of the absence of the principal counsels in court.
When the matter was called, yesterday it was discovered that Akingbola and his associate being tried alongside with him for alleged corruption, were not in court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) lawyer, Mr. Godwin Obla and defence lawyers, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) and Deji Sasegbon (SAN) were also not present in the court.
Akingbola was expected to begin his defence.
However, Grant Onwuka, a junior lawyer representing the defence, rather pleaded that the judge, grant them a short adjournment.
At this point, Justice Abiru lost his cool and retorted, “That is not my business!” and stressed that it appeared the parties were not serious with the suit.
Justice Abiru then adjourned the trial to June 20, 21, 25, 26 and 28, 2012.
On April 5 when the court last sat on the matter, the prosecution had closed its case against Akingbola.
Akingbola initially had a 29-count charge preferred against him but was later reduced to 21 after the charges that were directly related to his wife, Anthonia, were dropped.
The prosecution called only two witnesses, the chief inspector of Access Bank, Mr. Abdulraheem Jimoh and an EFCC operative, Mrs Nkechi Ibekaku.
Ibekaku told the court that the second defendant, Bayo Dada did not produce any document to back all the transfer of money allegedly made by Akingbola, which went into Tropics Securities Limited account and some other companies in which Akingbola and wife, Anthonia, have interests.
