Alleged N8billion fraud: Court adjourns ruling on bail till 30 June, and 4 July

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By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan Tuesday adjourned till 30 June, and 4 July, 2016 its ruling on two separate bail applications brought before it by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and some commercial banks workers presently facing trial over the alleged N8 billion currency fraud.
At the resumed hearing of the trial, counsel to the 2nd and 3rd accused persons, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Togun Kayode Philip, Mr Ikenna Chukwuebuka Okolo from Olalekan Ojo Chambers in his motion and written addresses informed the court about the poor health of the accused persons, and sought an order of the court directing the Controller of the Federal Prisons to allow the accused persons get medical attention elsewhere other than the prisons medical facilities.
The counsel maintained that the health of the accused persons was very important to enable them defend themselves on the charges brought against them, thereby  urging the court to grant the application.
In his written address, the defence counsel stressed that as a result of the new circumstances arisen since the start of the case, the court should consider granting the application based on the discretion of the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Prosecution counsel, Barrister Debiyi Adeniyi from Rotimi Jacobs Chambers, in a counter motion  held that the cases against the accused were too weighty and that the offenses has direct impact on the economy of the nation and that the motion was brought in pursuant to section 118 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act Section 18 of the Advanced Fee and other related Offenses Act 2006, Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Jurisdiction of the Court .
According to him, the Court cannot rely on oral evidence, without actual medical certificate or doctor’s advice and that none of such evidence was before the court to warrant the court to admit the accused to bail.
He added that the clear provision of the Evidence Act does not in any way support it, saying the defendant counsel was using antics to prepare the ground for subsequent applications.
Emphasizing in his written address to counter the application for bail that the accused had earlier approached the Court for bail but the application was refused by the court, he said there was no change circumstances that would warrant the court to admit the accused to bail and that the accused persons were having other serious cases pending in other courts, hence the court should reject the application.
Justice Abdul-Malik after listening to both parties, on whether to grant bail to the accused person on bail, fixed to 30 June ,2016 for ruling on the first set of case heard yesterday, but hearing of the substantive case was adjourned to 4 July , 2016,
On the second case, the Counsel to 4th and 5th accused persons Isaq Akano a.k.a. Isiaka and Ayodele Festus Adeyemi, Mr Olusole Dare in his application for bail  told the court that he was reliably informed by the family member that 4th accused person was critical lying at the intensive care of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
He urged the court to grant the accused bail due to his failing health to enable him seek medical treatment elsewhere.
The 4th accused person was absent at the Tuesday proceeding .
But the Prosecution counsel, Barrister Adeniyi countered the bail application, saying that the accused had since been attending to his health and that the defense counsel should not exaggerate the situation.
The Presiding Judge then adjourned ruling on the bail application in the second case to 4 July, 2016, while 26 and 28 September, 2016 was fixed for the hearing of substantive case by 11 am.
The seven of the accused persons present in court were  Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Togun Kayode Philips, Isaq Akano a.k.a Isiaka, Ayodele Festus Adeyemi , Oyebamiji Akeem , Ayodele Aleshe and Ajiwe Sunday Adegoke.

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