The ongoing trial of Abdullahi Alao over an alleged N2.6 billion fuel subsidy fraud was on Wednesday stalled at an Igbosere High Court in Lagos due to the inability of the EFCC to produce its witnesses.
Reports says Abdullahi Alao is the son of late Ibadan businessman, Arisekola-Alao.
Alao is facing a six-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences, forgery as well as altering and use of false documents before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.
He had, however, denied the charges.
The counsel to the EFCC, Mr Anslem Ozioko, urged the court to adjourn the case as the two witnesses who were expected to give evidence were unavailable.
“My Lord, we are planning to recall two witnesses who had earlier testified before the court.
“One of the witnesses, Mr Lawal Ahmed, is currently in another court for a cross examination involving another matter.
“Our second witness, Ms Tolulola Olanubi, is outside the country on an official assignment and she will be in the country next week.” Ozioko said.
Akinlade, however, registered her displeasure at the anti-graft agency’s inability to produce its witnesses.
“I fixed today specifically for only this matter, if I had known that this case will not go on as scheduled, I would have fixed other matters for today,” she said.
The defence counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, also complained to the court about how the matter was being handled by the EFCC.
“This the third time the EFCC will be amending the charge and not producing a witness,” Osipitan said.
Alao was first arraigned on July 26, 2012, before Justice Habeeb Abiru and was granted bail in the sum of N100million with two sureties in like sum.
Abiru, however, had been elevated to the Court of Appeal and Alao had to be re-arraigned alongside his company, Axenergy Ltd., before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.
Reports also have it that the EFCC is accusing the defendant of obtaining N2.6 billion as subsidy payments for the purported importation of 33.3 million litres of petrol from Europe to Nigeria.
Akinlade adjourned the case till May 13 and 14 for continuation of trial. (