Administrative Mix-Up Stalls Akingbola’s Re-arraignment

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Monday, December 9th, 2013

Ruth Bamidele,Lagos

The re-arraignment and trial of a former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr Erastus Akingbola, has been adjourned till March 24, 25 and 27, 2014 by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

Erastus Akingbola

The adjournment of the arraignment is as a result of an administrative mix up which omitted Akingbola’s case in the cause list for Monday’s proceedings.

Akingbola and his co-defendant, Bayo Dada was present in court but the judge noted that the matter was not listed.

Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Godwin Obla (SAN), said it was not proper to arraign the defendants because the case was not on the cause list for the day.

Akingbola and Dada are facing a 22-count charge before the court for allegedly stealing N47.1 billion belonging to the bank and obtaining money by false pretences.

The duo were earlier arraigned on May 31, 2011 before Justice Habeeb Abiru before the judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal.

The matter was later re- assigned to Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo and the defendants were re-arraigned on Feb.26, 2013.

The recent transfer of Onigbanjo to the Commercial Division of the Lagos High Court again necessitated the transfer of the case file to Lawal-Akapo.