Absence of judge stalls ex-HoS Oyo-Ita’s trial in alleged fraud case

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

The absence of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, FCT, Tuesday, October 20 stalled the continued trial of Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, a former Head of Service (HoS) of the Nigerian Federation.

Agency report says Justice Taiwo had, July 8, adjourned hearing till Oct. 20 and 21 Oct. due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recall that Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), March 20, 2020, had arraigned Oyo-Ita before the court by the on an 18-count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of about N471, 633, 291.

Ubong Effiok, her Special Assistant, and Garba Umar, a businessman, are among the defendants.

Other defendants are Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Ltd, Garba Umar Slopes International Limited, Gooddeal Investments Limited U & U Global Services Limited, which is linked to Effiok and Prince Mega Logistics Limited.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to report.

At the resumed hearing Tuesday, however, although counsel to all the parties, including the defendants, were in court, Justice Taiwo was absent.

The court registrar informed that the judge, who sat during the annual vacation of the Federal High Court, had proceeded on leave.

The Federal High Court annual vacation, which began on July 27, ended on September 28.

The court, however, fixed December 1─2 for continuation of the trial, report said.