Alleged N4.7 billion fraud: Court adjourns Babalakin’s trial
Adetokunbo Fakeye
An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing in an application filed by the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Ltd., Wale Babalakin, till May 12.
Babalakin, had in the application filed before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, asked the court to dismiss the N4.7 billion fraud charge preferred against him and four others.
The court who had earlier fixed Wednesday, April 30, for hearing of the application could not sit due to Justice Lawal-Akapo’s absence as he was said to be attending a workshop on Continuous Legal Education organised by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.
The new date has been communicated to the parties involved in the suit.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had charged Mr. Babalakin with allegation of illegal transfer of N4.7billion on behalf of convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.
Mr. Babalakin is on trial alongside Alex Okoh and their companies; Stabilini Visioni Ltd; Bi-Courtney Ltd. and Renix Nigeria Ltd.
Both are facing a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct.
Babalakin co-defendants had also filed similar applications, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charge.
They had also challenged the competency of the charge, arguing that the EFCC lacked the power to prosecute them before a state high court without a valid fiat from the state attorney-general.
