Former Oyo state governor Adebayo Alao-Akala
The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has refused the appliance by an ex-governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Consults, Olufemi Babalola, for a keep of proceedings pending the result of an attraction on the Supreme Court.
Alao-Akala alongside a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hosea Agboola, a contractor and Babalola are standing trial for offences bordering on alleged prison conspiracy and fraudulent practices to the tune of N11.5 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in an assertion on Monday mentioned they had been earlier arraigned on an 11-count cost by the anti-graft company.
After the arraignment, their trial was stalled following their functions to remain additional proceedings/trial pending the dedication of their appeals on the Supreme Court by counsel to the primary and third defendants, A.O. Afolabi (SAN) and A. Ogunwole (SAN).
Their motions had been nevertheless opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Ben Ubi who urged the court docket to refuse the functions and order for accelerated listening to 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.
In his ruling, on Monday, Justice M. L. Owolabi mentioned: “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 date.”
The case was then adjourned to June 29 and July three, 2018, for trial.