By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA
IKEJA — An Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday, said it would not hesitate to strike out the N35.5 million theft charge against Deji Abiola, son of the late politician, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its failure to produce its witness in court.
IKEJA — An Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday, said it would not hesitate to strike out the N35.5 million theft charge against Deji Abiola, son of the late politician, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its failure to produce its witness in court.
Trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, who gave the warning at the resumed hearing in the matter, following EFCC’s request for an adjournment, said it will only grant an adjournment on the condition that EFCC will produce its witness in court at the next adjourned date.
EFCC had sought for a short adjournment instead of calling its witness, a move that infuriated the judge.
The court had on March 12, adjourned till, yesterday, for the commencement of the trial, after it dismissed an application by Deji, seeking to quash the one count charge of stealing about N35.5m against him.
Reacting to the request for adjournment, the court said: “The date of adjournment is sacrosanct in this court. You cannot ask for an adjournment without cogent reason. If you are not going to continue with the case today (yesterday), I am going to discharge the accused person and when you are ready to prosecute him, you can bring him back.”
EFCC’s counsel, Mr. A. Adebola, had earlier told the court that the prosecution would not be able to continue with the case on the grounds that its first witness, the investigating officer in the case, had been transferred to Enugu.
He had also asked the court to further adjourn an earlier date of May 16, as he would be away for an appeal case on the said date.
The judge warned that he would no longer tolerate such request for adjournment because, “it will mess up the court’s diary. You cannot make me have this matter on my list when you know you are not ready to prosecute. If you are not ready to prosecute, I will discharge the defendant for you to go and re-file your case. “
The court, meanwhile, adjourned the matter till May 16.
…restrains Ikoyi Club over member’s expulsion
By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH
IKEJA — Efforts by the Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, to expel one of its members, Prince Mordi Aigbedion, from the club has suffered a setback, as an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, has declared his expulsion as wrongful and illegal.
IKEJA — Efforts by the Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, to expel one of its members, Prince Mordi Aigbedion, from the club has suffered a setback, as an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, has declared his expulsion as wrongful and illegal.
Aigbedion had dragged the Registered Trustees of the club to court over his expulsion based on a report of inquiry by the club.
Trial judge, Justice Ayo Philips, held that the decision of the club to expel the applicant was incompetent, null and void.
Not satisfied with the judgment, the club asked the court to stay its judgment.
Dismissing the application of the registered trustees of the club, Justice Phillips held the judgment sought to be stayed was a declaratory one and not executory and refused to stay same.
The court noted that since an administrative panel of inquiry had found Aigbedion liable for an offence allegedly bordering on criminal activity, the club ought to have referred same to the police for further investigation.
Aigbedon had sued Mr. Richard L. Kramer, Mr. Alaba Okupe, Akin Laguda and Mr. Dele Adetiba as the registered trustees of Ikoyi Club 1938, over his expulsion as a member, contending that he was not allowed to make any representation to the purported disciplinary committee that recommended his expulsion.
He had asked the court for an order of certiorari to quash the report of the investigative panel which he pointed out was not a court of competent jurisdiction.
SOURCE: Vanguard Newspaper, 8 May 2012. http://www.vanguardngr.com/
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