A Lagos State High Court has rejected the police administrative bail given to the Managing Director of Cross Country Limited, Mr. Bube Okorodudu alleged of N82.8m vehicle fraud.
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo who dismissed the bail granted to Okorodudu by the Zone 2 Police Command stated that the bench warrant issued against the defendant on July 1, 2014 still stands.
The judge therefore ordered the police to unfailingly bring Okorodudu to court on December 2, 2014 to take his plea on an eight-count of Vehicle fraud levelled against him.
Okorodudu and his two companies, Cross Country Limited and Carr Link Limited, are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an allegation that they defrauded one Adeloye Olukemi of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses worth N82.8m.
The defendant who was expected to appear before Justice Lawal-Akapo on July 1, 2014 to take his plea had been absent, leading to the issuance of bench warrant against him.
At the proceeding on Wednesday, he was again absent.
His lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo, pleaded with the court saying his absence was a result of a mix up in the adjourned date.
Taiwo in his plea informed the court that Okorodudu had complied with the court order to submit himself to the police and had been granted an administrative bail.
The lawyer told the court that his client had earlier been brought to court by the police but as a result of the strike by the judicial workers which crippled court activities he could not appear before the judge as the court did not sit.
Taiwo said, “The defendant gave himself up to the police and the EFCC is fully aware of this. But this could not be verified in the presence of the court as the court was on strike then.
“The defendant would have been brought physically to court today but because of a mixup in the dates he is absent.”
The judge was however not persuaded.
Lawal-Akapo, who frowned at the manner in which the case was being stalled, reaffirmed the earlier bench warrant that he issued against Okorodudu.
Meanwhile, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has taken over the case from the EFCC.
A lawyer from the AGF office, Mr. D.E. Kaswe said the transfer followed a letter dated September 22, 2014.
According to Kaswe, the AGF took over the matter because there was another sister case at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Kaswe said, “We want to examine the files and reach our own conclusions because both of them are criminal matters.”
Seeking for an adjournment, Kaswe said he had yet to receive the case file from the EFCC.
He said, “I took over the case from the EFCC when the court was on vacation and I am yet to get the case file from them.”
Justice Akapo however expressed dissatisfaction, adding that there was a need to fast-track criminal cases as the liberty of the defendant was at stake.
He said, “I am not in any way impressed by the excuse given by the learned counsel that his office is still trying to take over the original case. A judge should take firm control of his court and not bend to the whims and caprices of counsel. Priority should be given to criminal cases and counsel are enjoined to assist the court. The bench warrant issued on July 1 is still in force and the police should execute same to the letter.”
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo who dismissed the bail granted to Okorodudu by the Zone 2 Police Command stated that the bench warrant issued against the defendant on July 1, 2014 still stands.
The judge therefore ordered the police to unfailingly bring Okorodudu to court on December 2, 2014 to take his plea on an eight-count of Vehicle fraud levelled against him.
Okorodudu and his two companies, Cross Country Limited and Carr Link Limited, are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an allegation that they defrauded one Adeloye Olukemi of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses worth N82.8m.
The defendant who was expected to appear before Justice Lawal-Akapo on July 1, 2014 to take his plea had been absent, leading to the issuance of bench warrant against him.
At the proceeding on Wednesday, he was again absent.
His lawyer, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo, pleaded with the court saying his absence was a result of a mix up in the adjourned date.
Taiwo in his plea informed the court that Okorodudu had complied with the court order to submit himself to the police and had been granted an administrative bail.
The lawyer told the court that his client had earlier been brought to court by the police but as a result of the strike by the judicial workers which crippled court activities he could not appear before the judge as the court did not sit.
Taiwo said, “The defendant gave himself up to the police and the EFCC is fully aware of this. But this could not be verified in the presence of the court as the court was on strike then.
“The defendant would have been brought physically to court today but because of a mixup in the dates he is absent.”
The judge was however not persuaded.
Lawal-Akapo, who frowned at the manner in which the case was being stalled, reaffirmed the earlier bench warrant that he issued against Okorodudu.
Meanwhile, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has taken over the case from the EFCC.
A lawyer from the AGF office, Mr. D.E. Kaswe said the transfer followed a letter dated September 22, 2014.
According to Kaswe, the AGF took over the matter because there was another sister case at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Kaswe said, “We want to examine the files and reach our own conclusions because both of them are criminal matters.”
Seeking for an adjournment, Kaswe said he had yet to receive the case file from the EFCC.
He said, “I took over the case from the EFCC when the court was on vacation and I am yet to get the case file from them.”
Justice Akapo however expressed dissatisfaction, adding that there was a need to fast-track criminal cases as the liberty of the defendant was at stake.
He said, “I am not in any way impressed by the excuse given by the learned counsel that his office is still trying to take over the original case. A judge should take firm control of his court and not bend to the whims and caprices of counsel. Priority should be given to criminal cases and counsel are enjoined to assist the court. The bench warrant issued on July 1 is still in force and the police should execute same to the letter.”
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