By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The absence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) from court on Friday stalled the ongoing trial of former Managing director and Chief Executive Officer of defunct Intercontinental Bank, Dr Erastus Akingbola.
The former Intercontinental Bank Plc boss, is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the allegation of granting “unsecured credit facilities” worth billions of naira to different companies, among others.
According to EFCC, the alleged offence violates Section 14 (1) of the Money Laundering Act.
At the last trial date, when the matter came up before Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court Lagos Nigeria, EFCC called its first witness, Mr Paul Akali, an official of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) who testified before the court while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Akali had told the court roles played by his team, which led to the removal of Dr. Akingbola as the Bank’s managing director and chief executive officer, as well as taking over of the bank by Access Bank Plc.
He had told the court under cross examination by Dr Akingbola’s counsel Professor Taiwo Oshipitan (SAN) that his team did not recommend the taking over of the bank.
At the resumed continuation of the trial on Friday November 6, whereas the defendant Dr Akingbola and his defence counsel were in court, the prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs was absent. He sent a letter to the defence in respect of his absent from court.
Consequently, the trial could not go on, resulting in adjournment of the trial to November 20.
