The trial of former officials of banks indicted in the N8 billion CBN currency scam continued today with the prosecuting counsel Adebisi Adeniyi asking for time to enable the prosecution and the 4th accused, Oni Adewale Dolapo, conclude plea bargain negotiations.
The trial of former officials of banks indicted in the N8 billion CBN currency scam continued today with the prosecuting counsel Adebisi Adeniyi asking for time to enable the prosecution and the 4th accused, Oni Adewale Dolapo, conclude plea bargain negotiations. He told the court that he received vital information late from the bank which stalled the process. He therefore asked for a short adjournment to perfect the plea bargain arrangement.
Otunba Bolalanle, Olalekan Ojo, Y.A.H Ruba, Adewole Oladele and A.T Onikosi counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th defendants respectively, did not object to the request for adjournment.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, having listened to all the counsel, adjourned the matter to October 6, 2016 for continuation of trial.
It would be recalled that at the last adjourned date, Ruba, counsel to Dolapo, told the court that he had applied to the EFCC for plea bargain, pointing out that the process would soon be completed.
Ruba informed the court that his client’s move was in line with Section 270 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
This was confirmed by Adeniyi, who informed the court that the plea bargain arrangement would be completed and filed before the court on the next adjourned date.
Meanwhile, Adeniyi today informed the court that the prosecution had amended the charge in respect of the following accused persons: Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philip, Ajunwa Bolade, Samuel Ogbeide, Tijani Olusoga and Olawunmi Nyang. He urged the court to accept the charge to enable the defendants take their plea.
But Otunba Bolanle and Olalekan Ojo informed the court that they are yet to be served with the amended charge hence the defendants could not take their plea.
Adebisi while insisting that the defence counsel had been served nevertheless, promised to make copies available to them.
Wilson UWUJAREN
Head, Media & Publicity
28th September, 2016
