N3.1bn Subsidy Fraud: ABSENCE OF ABDULLAHI ALAO’S COUNSEL STALLS TRIAL
Olaoluwa Folalu
The absence of Abdullahi Alao’s counsel on Wednesday stalled trial in the matter of Mahmud Tukur, Ochonogor Alex, Abdullahi Alao and their companies: Eterna Plc; AxEnergy and Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited answering to a 38- count charge of conspiracy, and obtaining N3,121,393,098 unearned subsidy fund by false pretence and forgery at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
At the resumed hearing, Alao’s counsel, Mr. Aderemi Oguntoye was conspicuously absent in court, with no explanation as to his whereabouts.
The presiding Judge, Justice Lateef Lawal Akapo expressed displeasure over Oguntoye’s absence, as he ordered that a letter be written to him by the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, and document same in the court records.
“Mr. Oguntoye is not here and I want to take all the applications together, now I can’t. I always say it, delays in court, dragging and congestion is often caused by counsels, and a counsel is not in court now. I don’t delay counsels yet counsels delay me, and that is unfair, and there is no communication from this counsel in absence. Please, write to him and let us take a date”.
Justice Akapo then adjourned to October 7, 2015.