By: Odeh Favour
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has threatened to issue a bench warrant against Olalekan Ogunbayo, a former President of the NNPC Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, over his repeated failure to appear in court for his arraignment in an alleged N582 million fraud case.
Justice Leslie Wike issued the stern warning following complaints by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that Ogunbayo had failed to show up in court for the third consecutive time.
The matter involves the alleged criminal misappropriation of proceeds derived from the sale of property belonging to the cooperative society in Abuja.
During the proceedings, prosecution counsel for the EFCC, R. U. Adagba, informed the court that while the second defendant, Abolade Nurudeen, was present, Ogunbayo remained absent.
Adagba explained that all efforts to locate Ogunbayo to serve him with the charge sheet proved abortive, prompting him to pray the court for a bench warrant to compel his appearance.
However, defense counsel Innocent Adoo stoutly opposed the prosecution’s application, contending that the charge must be properly served on Ogunbayo before any arraignment could legally take place.
Adoo further informed the court that his client was trapped in Warri, Delta State, and was unable to secure a flight to Abuja to attend the day’s proceedings.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Wike decided to adjourn the matter in the interest of justice to grant Ogunbayo another opportunity to appear for his formal arraignment.
The trial judge, however, cautioned that the court would not hesitate to take necessary legal steps against the defendant should he fail to turn up on the next adjourned date.
Consequently, the matter was adjourned until November 23.
The defendants are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged criminal misappropriation, abuse of office, corrupt practices, and obtaining money under false pretence regarding the sale of the cooperative society’s property located at Plot 50, Karsana North, Abuja.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly conspired in January 2024 to divert and misappropriate proceeds realized from the transaction.
Ogunbayo was specifically accused of receiving various sums of money including N100 million, N10 million, and N50 million into different bank accounts, while Nurudeen allegedly received N180 million into an account belonging to his firm.
The prosecution further alleged that both defendants were involved in another corrupt transaction valued at N160 million.
All the allegations remain subject to the final determination of the court.
