EFCC wants judge to disqualify self from Atuche's case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday urged Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court to excuse himself in the two cases involving former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche.
The anti-corruption agency accused Onigbanjo of bias in his handling of the suits so far.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, EFCC counsel, Sebastine Hon informed the court of the prosecution’s two separate applications which have been served on the defense lawyers.
The applications dated June 22 prayed the court for an order to disqualifying itself from presiding over the cases.
The EFCC claimed that the judge’s comments in his ruling on Atuche’s bail application on May 25 might have inadvertently prejudged the substantive charge and other pending applications.
Onigbanjo had held that there were similarities between the charges the former bank chief was facing before him and the one at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
But Atuche’s lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe in a letter addressed to the CJ dated June 14, had refuted EFCC’s allegations against Onigbanjo.
Idigbe said the ruling did not suggest in any shape that the judge had prejudged the substantive charge adding that he should be allowed to continue with hearing the suits.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande had refused to reassign the cases as earlier requested by the anti-corruption agency.
Atuche was charged separately with two former directors of Bank PHB, Mr Lekan Kasali and Fumi Ademosun before Onigbanjo on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that the former Bank PHB executives between November 2007 and September 2008 conspired to steal over N11.4 billion belonging to the bank.
Onigbanjo adjourned the matter to Sept. 19 to enable the defense respond to the EFCC’s application.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday urged Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court to excuse himself in the two cases involving former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Francis Atuche.
The anti-corruption agency accused Onigbanjo of bias in his handling of the suits so far.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, EFCC counsel, Sebastine Hon informed the court of the prosecution’s two separate applications which have been served on the defense lawyers.
The applications dated June 22 prayed the court for an order to disqualifying itself from presiding over the cases.
The EFCC claimed that the judge’s comments in his ruling on Atuche’s bail application on May 25 might have inadvertently prejudged the substantive charge and other pending applications.
Onigbanjo had held that there were similarities between the charges the former bank chief was facing before him and the one at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
But Atuche’s lawyer, Chief Anthony Idigbe in a letter addressed to the CJ dated June 14, had refuted EFCC’s allegations against Onigbanjo.
Idigbe said the ruling did not suggest in any shape that the judge had prejudged the substantive charge adding that he should be allowed to continue with hearing the suits.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande had refused to reassign the cases as earlier requested by the anti-corruption agency.
Atuche was charged separately with two former directors of Bank PHB, Mr Lekan Kasali and Fumi Ademosun before Onigbanjo on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that the former Bank PHB executives between November 2007 and September 2008 conspired to steal over N11.4 billion belonging to the bank.
Onigbanjo adjourned the matter to Sept. 19 to enable the defense respond to the EFCC’s application.
No comments:
Post a Comment