18 March 2015, Lagos – The on going trial of Abdullahi Alao, son of late Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao, an Ibadan businessman, over alleged N2.6 billion fuel subsidy fraud before a Lagos high court sitting at Igbosere was yesterday stalled as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC could not produce any witness before the court.
Federal High Court in Lagos.
At the proceedings, yesterday, the EFCC counsel, Anslem Ozioko, urged the court to adjourn the matter as the two witnesses expected to testify before the court are indisposed.
Ozioko said that he was planning on recalling two witness who have earlier testified before the court.
He said that one of the witnesses he is recalling is one Mr Lawal Ahmed who is in another court for cross examination on a matter, adding that he was not aware that the matter will be fixed for that date as he is not a lawyer.
He also said that the second witness, Tolulola Olanubi is outside the country on an official assignment and will return next week.
Justice Olabisi Akinlade who was not pleased with the anti-graft agency’s counsel for not being able to produce a witness before the court, said if she had known that the matter will not go on, she would have taken other matters, as she specifically fixed that date for that matter.
Earlier, the defendant was re-arraigned before Justice Akinlade over an amended charge of alleged N2.6 billion fuel subsidy fraud.
The defendant was arraigned on a six count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery, alttering and use of false documents, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
