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A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday dismissed a “no case” submission filed by former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi, in the N4.7billion fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
They will now open their defence in the case on November 20, 2018.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Idris said with the preponderance of evidence put forward by the anti-graft agency, the defendants have some explanations to make.
Justice Idris said: “I have refused to consider the issue of whether or not I will believe the evidence. I have also refused to consider the question of credibility of witnesses at this stage.
“In the light of all the evidences tendered by the prosecution and in my respective opinion, the defendants might have to explain the contents of some of those exhibits.”
Absence of Kalu from court stalls hearing in alleged N7.65bn fraud
However, Ladoja’s lawyer, Bolaji Onilenla, sought an adjournment till next week Tuesday to enable his client open his defence.
Other defence counsels, A. Olumide-Fusika, SAN, and the EFCC’s lawyer, Olabisi Oluwafemi, were also in agreement with Onilenla’s request.
The matter was subsequently adjourned by Justice Idris to November, 20, 2018 for the defendants to open their case.