The former civilian governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala lost his battle to halt the trial on the allegation of N11.5 billion leveled against him and the Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Consults, Olufemi Ademola Babalola.
The Oyo State High Court Justice M. L. Owolabi gave the ruling on Monday.
In his ruling, Justice Owolabi said “stay of proceedings will do more damage to the case which has been pending since 2011 and ordered the prosecution to assemble all its witnesses at the next dateâ€.
Alao-Akala alongside a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hosea Ayoola Agboola and a contractor and Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Consults, Mr Olufemi Ademola Babalola are standing trial for offences bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy and fraudulent practices to the tune of N11.5 billion.
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They were earlier arraigned on an 11-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. However, after arraignment, their trial was stalled following their applications to stay further proceedings/trial pending the determination of their appeals at the Supreme Court by counsel to the first and third defendants, A.O. Afolabi (SAN) and A. Ogunwole (SAN).
Their motions were however opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Ben Ubi. Relying on his written submissions on points of law, he urged the court to refuse the applications and order for accelerated hearing of the case in accordance with the intendment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Oyo State, 2016 and Section 19(2)(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(Establishment) Act, 2004.
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The case has been adjourned to June 29 and July 3, 2018 for trial.
www.sojworld.com © June 4, 2018
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