The Prosecutor in a N26.9 million fraud case, on Monday, accused the defendants of frustrating the commencement of the trial at a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, made the accusation after the three defendants had given different excuses for the absence of their counsel.
Katchy Okoye, 38; Matthew Usong, 40, and Princewill Eze, 45, were charged before Justice Aishat Opesanwo, on a 12-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under pretence.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, the first and second defendants told the court that their lawyer was indisposed, while the third defendant said that he dropped his lawyer due to his alleged connivance with the EFCC.
Oyedepo, however, told the court to discountenance the defendants’ excuses, saying that they were not sufficient.
“We already have two witnesses in court. This is a calculated effort to frustrate the take-off of the trial.
“Also, the first defendant has nothing to show that his lawyer is sick, while the third defendant has no change of counsel application before the court,” he said.
The third defendant, Eze, later told the court that his counsel would be in court within 24 hours.
Justice Aishat Opesanwo, then said that the court was inclined to indulge the defendants because the trial had just began.
She said that the defendants should secure counsel of their choice by the next adjournment date.
Opesanwo later adjourned the case till March 27, for trial.
The EFCC said that the three defendants conspired with three others, now at large, to obtain N26.9 million from one Mrs Lara Marire between May 25, 2010 and May 9, 2011.
The prosecutor said that they promised to help Marire to secure a contract from the Nigerian Ports Authority, to build 100 units of duplexes at Lekki, Lagos, which they never did.
The offences contravene Sections 1 (3) and 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
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