Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the
Lagos State High court, sitting in Ikeja, on Friday, 30 September, 2016 adjourned
proceedings in the case of conspiracy,
obtaining property by false pretence, forgery and uttering a false documents
brought against Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer
and their company, Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited by Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, to October 14,2016.
The adjournment followed fiery
exchanges between the prosecuting counsel, Rotmi Jacobs, SAN, and counsel to
the first defendant, Mr. Onyeke over the continued absence of Walter Wagbatsama
from trail.
Rotimi (SAN) had filed an application urging the court to continue proceedings without the first defendant whom he said have absconded from justice. He noted that despite the court being in possession of the first defendant’s international passport, he still travelled out of the country to four countries namely, France, Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany with four different passports claiming to be critically ill without informing the court.
Rotimi (SAN) had filed an application urging the court to continue proceedings without the first defendant whom he said have absconded from justice. He noted that despite the court being in possession of the first defendant’s international passport, he still travelled out of the country to four countries namely, France, Switzerland, Netherlands and Germany with four different passports claiming to be critically ill without informing the court.
He said the conduct of the
accused contravened section 2(1) and section 352(4) of the Administration
of Criminal Justice Act.
Rotimi further told the court that the first defendant was arrested in Germany by United Kingdom authorities, extradited and placed on house arrest for unconcluded criminal charges.
He urged the court to continue proceedings without the first defendant and to compel the defense counsel to produce Dr. Amodu, the physician who referred the first defendant to Germany for medical treatment.
Onyeke dismissed the submission by the prosecution on the whereabouts of the first defendant as a mere market-place gossip, adding that his client has not absconded from justice but merely travelled to Germany for medical treatment.
However, Onyeke confirmed that his client was arrested in Germany by UK authorities only on suspicion, and that Temporary Admission has been issued to his client by the UK Home Office and has not been charged with any offence.
The defense counsel could however not oppose continuation of proceedings without the first defendant as submitted by the prosecution but said the prosecution fails to understand the difference between misconduct and a clear reason beyond the control of his client to attend proceedings.
The defendants on July 7, 2010 allegedly obtained the sum of N340, 000,000 by false pretence from the Federal Government purporting the money to be subsidy payable to Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
Wilson Uwujaren
Rotimi further told the court that the first defendant was arrested in Germany by United Kingdom authorities, extradited and placed on house arrest for unconcluded criminal charges.
He urged the court to continue proceedings without the first defendant and to compel the defense counsel to produce Dr. Amodu, the physician who referred the first defendant to Germany for medical treatment.
Onyeke dismissed the submission by the prosecution on the whereabouts of the first defendant as a mere market-place gossip, adding that his client has not absconded from justice but merely travelled to Germany for medical treatment.
However, Onyeke confirmed that his client was arrested in Germany by UK authorities only on suspicion, and that Temporary Admission has been issued to his client by the UK Home Office and has not been charged with any offence.
The defense counsel could however not oppose continuation of proceedings without the first defendant as submitted by the prosecution but said the prosecution fails to understand the difference between misconduct and a clear reason beyond the control of his client to attend proceedings.
The defendants on July 7, 2010 allegedly obtained the sum of N340, 000,000 by false pretence from the Federal Government purporting the money to be subsidy payable to Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.
Wilson Uwujaren
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