Erastus Akingbola, a
former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, trial was stalled once again
on Thursday, due to the transfer of the case to a new trial judge, Justice
Babajide Lawal-Akapo.
Lawal-Akapo is the third
judge to try the theft charges preferred against Akingbola and his associate,
Mr. Bayo Dada, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission within the last
two years.
Akingbola who is standing trial on a 22-count charge of
conspiracy and stealing of N47.1bn belonging to the Intercontinental Bank (now
Access Bank Plc), at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, was earlier arraigned before Justice
Habeeb Abiru in 2011 and later to transferred to Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo when
Justice Abiru was elevated to the Court of Appeal; however, the third judge, Justice
Lawal Akapo is the third judge who took over following the transfer of
Onigbanjo to the commercial court, from the criminal court of the Lagos
Judiciary.
He was first arraigned
before Justice Habeeb Abiru in 2011. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and
was granted bail in the sum of N100m with two sureties in like sum. Dada was
also granted a N50m bail with two sureties in like sum.
The new date for the
commencement of Akingbola’s trial is expected to be announced by Lawal-Akapo,
next Friday.
Akingbolas' trial must
begin in earnest as the justice delay is justice denial, because N47.1 bn is
not a small amounts of money, all the owners of this money cannot wait any
longer for Akingbola and co. to be enjoying what they did not work for.
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