Court may strike out EFCC suit against Daniel

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NIGERIA: AN Abeokuta High Court has threatened to throw out the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

The court warned that should it fail to present its witnesses on Friday, it will strike out the case.

The trial judge, Justice Olanrewaju Mabekoje, warned the commission at the last sitting that it could not continue to foot-dragged on the six-year old suit following its consistent failure to produce its witnesses in court.

Mabekoje stated that at the previous hearing of the case last October 11 EFCC failed to produce its witnesses, thus forcing the court to adjourn to last Friday.

And at the resumed hearing, counsel to the ex-Governor, Titilola Akinlawon, who led other defence counsels, including former Ogun State Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner, Akin Osibajo, told the court she wanted to file a fresh application.

She further told the court that the application would be pleading with the court to order EFCC to close its case at the next hearing if it again fails to produce its witnesses in court

But, the commission’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, blamed the failure to bring the witnesses on the recent workers’ strike in Ogun State.

Mabekoje, however, cautioned that the court was at liberty to order the commission to close its case against Daniel if, once again, fail to produce its witnesses at the next hearing fixed for November 11.