Absence of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State stalled the hearing of the fraud case between the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo; and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Though in her chambers within the court, Justice Abdulmalik who is slightly indisposed could not appear in the courtroom to hear the fraud case involving the Speaker on Monday.
It was gathered that Oluomo arrived at the court premises around 8:45 am, a few minutes after lawyers of the EFCC had arrived.
The former Deputy Speaker, Dare Kadiri, was also in court, but they all left when court officials told them that the case had been adjourned till March 29 and 30, 2023, having waited for more than one hour inside the court.
This is the second time the court would adjourn the case after it was transferred from Lagos to Ogun State.
The EFCC had in September 2022 arrested and later arraigned Oluomo for allegedly diverting N2.5 billion belonging to the Assembly, in suit no: FHC/AB/61C/2022
Oluomo was arraigned alongside the Clerk of the House, Taiwo Adeyemo; and the Director of Finance, Oladayo Samuel.
The EFCC had accused the Speaker and others of forging receipts and signatures to divert billions of naira from the legislative house.
They were thereafter granted bail after pleading not guilty, even as they were asked to submit their travel documents at the court registry
