Written by Iyabo Lawal, Ibadan
AN Ibadan high court Wednesday adjourned hearing in the N11.5 billion fraud case involving former Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, his erstwhile Commissioner for Local Government, Senator Hosea Agboola and Femi Babalola pending the determination of appeal filed by the accused persons at the appellate court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had dragged the trio to court over allegations of conspiracy, illegal award of contracts, obtaining money by false pretence and acquiring property with money derived from illegal act.
At the court sitting Wednesday, Justice Bayo Taiwo adjourned the case when Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) counsel to Alao-Akala and Olufemi Babalola told the court that no decision has been taken by the Appeal Court on the matter.
Fagbemi urged the court to wait for the final determination of the suit before proceeding on other matters.
Agboola’s counsel, Mr. Richard Ogunwole (SAN) also aligned himself with the submission of Fagbemi.
The accused persons had brought an application before the court seeking to quash the charges preferred against them by the anti-graft agency.
But the trial justice, Justice Akintunde Boade dismissed the application and held that the trio has a case to answer.
The re-assignment of the case to Justice Taiwo was necessitated by the retirement of Boade on February 21.
Taiwo had granted a temporary bail to Alao-Akala, Agboola and Babalola.
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