COURT MAY ISSUE BENCH WARRANT ON CHIEF RASHEESD LADOJA

Lagos, Nigeria – A Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos today delayed ruling till Friday, November 25th, on application for bench warrant to compel former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Ladoja to appear before it.

The former governor is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on 10 count charge of money laundering to the tune of N4.7 billion.

But at the hearing today, Chief Ladoja was not in court, leading to legal fireworks between counsel to the EFCC, Olabisi Oluwafemi and counsel to the defendant, Mr. Bolaji Onilenla.

Onilenla had told the court, that the learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun was no longer in the defence team and at the same time challenged the authority of Oluwafemi as lacking the prosecural authority having announced his appearance as standing alone instead of standing in for Festus Keyamo, whom he averred had the sole authority.

He thereafter demanded for evidence of his representation which was tendered before Justice M. B. Buba for perusal.

In his argument, the prosecutor alleged that the defence told his client not to appear in court and thereafter prayed the court to issue bench warrant on Ladoja.

After listening to the argument, Justice M.B. Buba appealed for understanding and cooperation between the defence team and prosecution in the interest of peace and justice.

He stated that the court will be bound by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and that he does not want anybody to be embarrassed in the cause of trial. He then fixed Friday, November 25, 2016 to rule on the application.