The absence of both prosecution and defence counsel on Friday stalled the trial of a suspected fraudster, Edet Mkpa, before an Ikeja High Court.
Mkpa 42 is facing trial before Justice A.O. Opesanwo on a seven-count charge of defrauding one Miss Onyinye Okonkwo of N800,000 in the guise of assisting her to secure contracts from Chevron Nig. Plc
The accused had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Friday, prosecution counsel, Kayode Oni, and defence counsel, O. Ajijola from the Office of the Public Defender, were absent in the court.
Both of them sent letters to the court giving reasons for their absence, and requested for an adjournment in the case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which is prosecuting Mkpa, had said that he defrauded Okonkwo between January and July , 2009.
The EFCC also accused Mkpa of forging a staff identity card of Joy-Collins International, which he claimed to be its operations manager, to be able to defraud his victim.
This commission said that the alleged offences contravened Section 1(1) (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Related Offences Act, 2006 as well as Section 467 of the Criminal Code of Lagos State.
The case has been adjourned till Oct. 8 for further hearing.
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