Counsel to Cecilia Abu, Elvis E. Asia has reacted to the publication of the pending criminal proceedings instituted against his client by the Nigeria Police Force at the Lagos State Magistrate’s Court.
  
Asia claimed that the police account of the court proceedings of June 1, 2023, as published in The Guardian newspaper was not a true reflection of what transpired in court on the stated date.
 
He described the allegation that his client was released by the court based on his claim that the police requested for N250 million as bail and that he was ready to part with N20 million as false.
  
He added that contrary to the allegation of fact made by the Police to The Guardian, his client is standing trial before her Honour, F.M Dalley at the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court 10, sitting at Court 2, Yaba for allegedly defrauding people of 100 million and not billions of Naira.
   
He clarified that the remand order made in the matter was for 14 days and not 30 days as reported.
  
He debunked the allegation that he disappeared with a certain Rakiyat Musa immediately after proceedings and explained that Rakiyat was duly discharged by the court.
 
Asia added that Rakiyat, who had no counsel, merely benefitted from the arguments made on behalf of his client because the police had joined her with his client in the remand application.
 
He further stated that there was no charge filed or any criminal proceeding pending against the said Rakiyat Musa at the time the matter came up on June 1, 2023.
 
“There was also no explanation on the extent of the investigation as neither the prosecutor nor IPO could not furnish the Court with any update on the investigation,” the counsel stated.