Court to hear applications on alleged N1.35b fraud on January 30

The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, has adjourned till January 30, 2025, to hear two applications in an N1.35 billion charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a defendant, Mr Olalekan Abdul.

The applications were filed by the nominal complainant, through its counsel, Chukwuma Machukwu Ume.

Ume informed the trial judge, Mojisola Dada, that both applications were dated November 17, 2024, and filed on November 24, 2024.

The first one listed the Lagos Attorney General (AG) as a respondent, while the other, apart from the parties before the court, listed the EFCC as a respondent.

The Ume added that the applications were “fundamental” to the matter before the court as they related to the Nolle Prosequi (discontinuance of trial) entered by the AG, which resulted in the removal of 20 counts of charges and the amendment of the information filed by the prosecutor.
“The above application is praying the court to set aside the order,” Ume added.

He informed the court that his second motion was focused on the amendment of the information filed on October 24, 2024, wherein the EFCC left out the second defendant, Azubuike Ishiekwene, a former newspaper editor.

“The application is that the order and the amendment be set aside. The said applications have been served on all parties,” Ume said, praying the court to take the application due to its “fundamental nature.”