Alleged N47Bn Theft: Akingbola Insists On Fresh Trial

[ChannelsTV]

The former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, on Tuesday, insisted on a fresh trial in the case of stealing N47 billion belonging to the bank, brought against him by the Economic and Finanacial Crimes Commission.



Mr. Akingbola at his re-arraignment before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja rejected the call by the EFCC for the adoption of the proceedings of the aborted trial by the court.

The trial presided over by Justice Habeeb Abiru was aborted last November just before the parties were about to exchange final addresses.

Messrs Akingbola and his co-defendant, Bayo Dada, pleaded not guilty to the 22 charges of stealing and obtaining by false pretences about N47.1 billion belonging to Intercontinental Bank now Access Bank.

These charges are not new. At a previous trial before Justice Abiru, the EFCC had called 2 witnesses who testified against Mr. Akingbola.

The former bank boss subsequently called four witnesses and even took the witness box to testify in his own defence.

That trial was, however, truncated at the stage of final addresses in November 2102, when the trial judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal.

At his re-arraignment, the former bank boss rejected suggestions from the new trial judge and the EFCC for the adoption of the proceedings of the aborted trial.

The defence lawyers opposed the move, arguing that there was a new set of lawyers handling the matter for both defendants.

Justice Onigbanjo subsequently fixed the 10th July for trial.

He also granted the defence lawyer's request, that the defendants should continue to enjoy the bail already granted them by the first trial court.

Via: ChannelsTV

[Shola Sholaz]

lets see what decision would be reached

[Shola Sholaz]

see this huge money they stole.some people don't have the fear of God o