N11.5bn Fraud Allegations: Court Refuses To Stop Alao-Akala’s Trial

The Law

Court Continues With Trial Of Alao-Akala

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has rejected the application by an ex-governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Consults, Olufemi Babalola, for a stay of proceedings pending the outcome of an appeal at the Supreme Court,, Naija News understand.

The former Oyo State governor, Alao-Akala, alongside a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hosea Agboola and a contractor and Babalola are standing trial for offences bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy and fraudulent practices to the tune of N11.5 billion.

This was disclosed by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Dr. B. Ubi at the Oyo State High Court sitting, yesterday, in Ibadan.

The counsel said this when the presiding judge in the case, Justice Muniru Owolabi delivered a ruling on an application which prayed the court to allow the Supreme Court deliver its ruling on an earlier application challenging the competence of the court to hear the case.

Justice Owolabi dismissed the application saying it amounted to asking for a stay of proceedings, which he said, is not in tandem with the administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The court then ordered the prosecution counsel to produce his witnesses in the box for the commencement of trial.

But the EFCC counsel asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to prepare the witnesses at the next sitting of the court.

The court then adjourned the case to June 29, 2018, for the commencement of trial.

Akala and other defendants in the case were arraigned on an 11- count charge bordering on conspiracy and false pretense.

Other charges against the accused persons include awarding a contract without budgetary provision, acquiring property with money derived from an illegal act and concealing the owner act of such property and others.