The proposed arraignment of the immediate past Chairman of Ikeja Branch of Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), Adesina Ogunlana was on Monday stalled due to the absence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ogunlana was billed to be arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court alongside Yinka Farounbi also a former NBA Chairman and one Mrs. Kappo.
The trio are facing a thirty-count charge preferred against them by the anti-graft agency.
The charges against the defendants border on money laundering, conspiracy to steal and stealing.
Farounbi who is the 2nd defendant was however absent in court.
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According to their counsel, Gbenga Ojo, Farounbi was in EFCC detention.
“The EFCC just wants to embarrass the defendants.
“As My Lord can see, the EFCC is not here in court. The defendants have presented themselves ready to be arraigned but the EFCC is nowhere to be found,” he said.
The lawyer also complained that the anti-graft agency was simply out to embarrass his clients.
“Policemen are downstairs waiting to arrest the defendants.
“The EFCC now owns this country operating openly with high handedness,” he said.
Justice Dada thereafter adjourned the arraignment till May 22nd.
The former NBA leaders travails were initiated by a petition written to the EFCC by three members of NBA, Ikeja branch, over alleged misappropriation of N30 million belonging to the branch.
The petitioners alleged that Farounbi, in connivance with Ogunlana, another former Chairman of NBA Ikeja branch, diverted the funds alongside Mrs Kappo, a former Treasurer of the branch connived together to misappropriate the funds.
and then