An Ikeja special offences court has ordered the managing director of First Nation Airways Kayode Odukoya, to face trial over alleged N1.7 billion theft charge proffered against him by the Economic an d Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The First Nation MD is facing a four-count charge of forgery, use of false document, perjury and stealing.
Odukoya’s defence counsel, Olawale Akoni, had prayed for an order of the court striking out the charge for want of jurisdiction.
The defendant, in the application, said the EFCC charge contravened the provisions of sections 249, 252 and 77 of the administration of criminal justice law (ACJL), no. 10 of 2011.
However, the anti-graft agency opposed the application and urged the court to dismiss Odukoya’s application on the ground that it lacked merit and was an abuse of process of the court.
Justice Mojisola Dada, who presided over the matter on Friday, dismissed the objection seeking to quash the charges.
The judge ruled that: “The totality of the preliminary objection fails and is hereby dismissed
“The proper parties are before the court and the application is a time-wasting device,” she ruled.
Following the ruling, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Zainab Ettu, informed the court that nine prosecuting witnesses were to testify against the airline boss.
“We will be asking the court for trial dates,” Ettu said.
Justice Dada fixed November 7, 8 and 9 for the trial.
Famzn News recalls that Odukoya’s operating licence has since been suspended by the aviation authorities.