By Davidson Iriekpen, 10.07.2010 

 

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the Managing Director of Spring  Bank Plc; Mrs. Olushola Ayodele and five others to appear before it on October  26 to face an alleged N5.208 billion fraud charge brought against them by the  Federal Government.

 

Justice Mohammed Idirs held that the law is very clear on the present of an  accused person in court in a criminal trial, according to him section 215 of the  Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) states that an accused person must be present in  court before the proceeding can start. 

 

Spring Bank Plc, Olushola, Michael Ajamah, Lanre Odunlami, Awele Nwaboshi,  Gladys Okebelama and Olubukola Moradeyo were charged before the court by the  office of the Attorney General of the Federal on a five counts charge of  conspiracy to steal, obtaining by false pretence, forgery and accessory after  fact of stealing.However, despite the fact that all the accused persons have been served with the  allegations against them and they have so far refused to appear before the court.

 

Meanwhile,Solicitors Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, Joseph Nwobike and Folu Oguntade,  counsel to the Bank and its key past and present officers on the alleged N5.2billion fraud case have been instructed by the bank to appeal the court’s decision requiring them to appear physically before the court for the hearing and determination of their notices of prediminary objection.

 

At the resumption of proceedings yesterday in the matter instituted by Strand Capital Partners Ltd., counsel to the bank informed  the court that they had on September 28 filed motion on notice for preliminary objection to the commencement of trial seeking that the matter be struck out or dismissed.

 

 

Source:ThisDay