By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Two siblings Omolayo Veronica Matthew and Oluwafemi Moses Matthew, and their company Stelmart Nigeria Ltd charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos have asked the court to consolidate their trial
They were arraigned before the court on November 8, 2022, on a nine-count charge bordering on stealing/fraud to the tune of N10 million, which is contrary to Section 285(9)(b) of the Criminal law of Lagos State.
They had pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges when the charge was read out to them.
When the matter was called up on Tuesday, Mr Gbolahan Latona announced an appearance for the prosecution, while Otunba Dele Babalola announced an appearance for the defence.
Latona the prosecutor informed the court that the matter was for continuation of trial, adding that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the day’s business.
“I have my witness in court,” he said.
However, defence counsel Dele Babalola informed the court that the defendants had applied for consolidation of the trial.
“We have four different cases in different courts, two are part-heard, and we have written to the Chief Judge requesting for the charges to be consolidated before one judge,” he said.
Responding, Latona noted that, “from a single transaction, different offences can occur”, adding that, “you can talk of consolidation in a civil case and not in a criminal trial”.
Latona stressed further that contrary to the claim of the defence, “the trials are not the same”.
After listening to all the arguments, Justice Dada adjourned till July 12, 2023 “for mention”.
One of the counts reads: “Stelmart Nigeria Limited, Matthew Veronica Omolayo, and Matthew Oluwafemi Moses, on or about the 1st February 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly converted to your use, the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) property of 03 Capital Nigeria Limited.”
