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The corruption trial of former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Christopher Alao-Akala would reseume in three weeks after an attempt by their lawyers to hold off the case.
Justice M. L. Owolabi of the Oyo State High Court 15 sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan on Monday dismissed an application for stay of proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal at the Supreme Court filed by the defence team.
In his ruling, Justice Owolabi said “stay of proceedings will do more damage to the case which has been pending since 2011. He ordered the prosecution to assemble all its witnesses at the next date”.
Alao-Akala alongside the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Hosea Ayoola Agboola and a contractor and Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Consults, Mr Olufemi Ademola Babalola are standing trial on offences bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy and fraudulent practices to the tune of N11.5 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the accused persons on an 11-count charge which they pleaded not guilty to.
But after arraignment, the trial was stalled following their applications to stay further proceedings/trial pending the determination of their appeals at the Supreme Court by counsel to the first and third defendants, A.O. Afolabi (SAN) and A. Ogunwole (SAN) respectively filed on April 9, 2018.
Their motions were however opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Ben Ubi relying on his written submissions on points of law. He urged the court to refuse the applications and rather order for accelerated hearing of the case in accordance with the spirit and intendment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Oyo State, 2016 and Section 19(2)(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(Establishment) Act, 2004.
The case was therefore adjourned to the June 29 and July 3, 2018 for trial.