Lagos Court To Rule On Attorney General’s Application To Halt EFCC’s ‘N1.35b Fraud’ Case

• Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, to rule on Lagos State Attorney General’s application to halt trial of Azubuike Ishekwene and Olalekan Abdul for alleged N1.35b fraud.

• Attorney General Lawal Pedro filed for discontinuance after failed attempt to take over prosecution.

• EFCC accuses defendants of conspiracy, forgery, and stealing.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, is set to rule on July 1st on an application by Lagos State Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), to halt the trial of Azubuike Ishekwene and Olalekan Abdul.

The two are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged involvement in a N1.35 billion fraud case.

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Justice Mojisola Dada scheduled the date during a hearing on May 31st after considering a motion filed by Lawal.

Lawal submitted the motion for discontinuance following an unsuccessful attempt to take over the prosecution. Earlier, the court had ruled that the defendants must answer the charges, allowing the prosecution to proceed.

The EFCC brought charges against Ishekwene and Abdul in December 2019, accusing them of 26 counts of conspiracy, forgery, and stealing. They were arraigned on January 29, 2020.

According to the EFCC, the defendants, along with Adeyinka Adewole and Morakinyo Bolanle (at large), allegedly obtained N350 million and N1 billion from Wema Bank under false pretences.

Additionally, the anti-graft agency alleges that the defendants forged a document dated April 9, 2018, titled ‘Board Resolutions of Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solutions Ltd,’ purportedly issued by Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solutions.

EFCC further alleged Abdul, on December 14, 2010, presented a false board resolution of Cleanserve to Wema Bank to obtain a credit facility of N350 million and one billion naira at different intervals.

Ishiekwene, and Abdul, former managing director of Cleanserve, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

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EFCC opened its case in January 2020 and called witnesses for about three years.

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