Olalekan Ojo (SAN), lawyer to the former governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over its approach to prosecution of the defendant over an alleged gratifications, abuse of office and others.

The lawyer who is representing Emefiele in his trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, (Special Offence), Ikeja, expressed his displeasure while seeking for adjournment at the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday.

Emefiele is currently standing trial before the court on a 23 -counts charge bordering on abuse of office, accepting gratifications, corrupt demand and others slammed on him and one other by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Emefiele’s co-defendant,Isioma-Omoile was also docked on three- counts charge, but the defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charge

At the proceeding on Friday, the defendants criticism of EFCC approach to prosecution was sequel to the new proof of evidence served on them by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo.

At the last hearing of the case, the court has fixed May 3, (Friday) for the continuation of cross examination the prosecution second witness, John Ayoh.

However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, the prosecutor, Oyedepo served another fresh proof of evidence on the defendants which made them to seek for adjournment of the case.

Ojo informed the court that the prosecution had filed an additional proof of evidence and he need enough time to go through it.

Ojo argued that Emefiele had not seen the document and that Justice rushed was justice crushed

According to him: “I am constraint at this point to ask your lordship to do justice, the proof must be served early enough.

“Defence may find anything useful in the additional proof of evidence to cross-examine the witness in the box.

“humbly urge to court to adjourn this matter so that I can thoroughly go through it and study it.”

The second defendant’s counsel, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN) also aligned himself with the submission of the first defence counsel.

Kotoye argued that it was only in the part of the world that prosecution would be conducting investigation while case was already ongoing in court.

He therefore urged the court to adjourn the case in the interest of justice and adequate opportunity to study the additional proof of evidence.

“I urge your lordship not to entertain this trial by ambush and put a stop to it.

“I also apply your lordship mandate the prosecution to supply us all relevant materials.

“Therefore,on the spirit of fairness, I urge your lordship to adjourn the case,”Kotoye said.

The EFCC prosecutor, Oyedepo in his reply, informed the court that the second prosecution witness was in court for the continuation of cross-examination and that he had served defence the statement of one Mr John Adetola, as an additional proof of evidence.

Oyedepo, while opposing the submissions of the two defence counsel, prayed the court for the continuation of the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.

He said it was unfair for a senior advocate of Nigeria whom he owed in high esteem to describe his team and its activities as prosecutorial unfairness.

According to him, Adeola was a 5th prosecution witness in the proof of evidence,

Oyedepo said Adetola’s statement was contained in volume two of what was served on defence on April 4.

He said: “In preparation for his testimony that will be coming up not today, not even on May 9, the prosecution, rather than wait for defence to formally place a demand on us on what is in the device, diligence prosecution made me make the device available to defence.

“My lord, how does that amount to prosecutorial unfairness?

“I plead with defence not to delay this case unnecessarily as we have a witness in the box who had given evidence and he is being cross-examined by the first defence counsel.

“If defence is angry that I served them the proof of evidence today, we can withdraw it and serve same later day.”

The prosecution told the court that the society interested and watching the proceeding of the case.

“The society is interested, they are watching us that will this matter be adjourned based on the evidence of another man who is not the witness in the box?

“We are not rushing or crushing justice, rather, we are aiding the oil of Justice to rise steadily.

“Expeditious determination of case is of utmost importance and so we urge your lordship to allow the cross-examination.” Oyedepo said.

After listening to both parties, the trial judge, Justice Oshodi adjourned the trial till May 9 for defence to study the additional proof of evidence served on them by the prosecution.

Justice Oshodi, in his short ruling, said he had considered the submissions of both parties and he was satisfied with the reasons given by defence for adjournment

He said: “I have considered the conflicting submissions regarding whether I should adjourn for further continuation of trial.

“I am satisfied with the reasons given by defence.

” For the adjournment sought, I grant it.

“I Adjourn until May 9 for continuation of trial.”

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A Family Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, ordered that a tweenager, Joshua Olayiwola shoule be remanded  in Abolongo Correctional facility, Oyo Town, for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old neighbour’s daughter.

The police charged Olayiwola  with defilement.

The Magistrate, Mrs S. A. Adesina who did not take Olayiwola’s plea due to lack of jurisdiction, ordered the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

She  adjourned the matter  until June 13, for mention.

The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Gbemisola Adedeji told the court that Olayiwola, on April 15, between 8 a.m and 10 p.m allegedly defiled the minor  in the Ojo Ekun area of Ibadan .

She said the offence contravened the provisions of  Section 34 of the Oyo State Child Right’s Law 2006

Defence Headquarters says troops have eliminated a total of 715 terrorists and rescued 465 kidnap victims in ground and air operations across the country in the month of April.

The Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja on the operations of the Armed Forces.

He added that the troops also apprehended no fewer than 1,146 suspects during ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and other covert operations during the month.

Buba said several enclaves of notable terrorist leaders And commanders like Nasanda, Babaru, Kamilu Buzaru, Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari, across North West, were bombarded and destroyed.

According to him, other terrorist leaders and commanders engaged by air strikes include that of Mallam Yadee in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger and Bello Turji’s camp in Kagara forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa LGA in Sokoto State.

“All the surviving terrorist Commanders and leaders are walking corpses as we would get them, sooner than later.”

Buba explained that “the synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces during the period under review resulted in over 715 terrorist neutralised, arrested 1,146 persons and rescued 465 kidnapped hostages.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N2 billion.’’

In the North East, the defence spokesman said troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted operations into Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle and the Tumbus around the Lake Chad Region within the month.

He said that the operations led to the elimination of 248 terrorist, arrest of 422, and rescue of 163 kidnapped hostages while a total of 714 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.

According to him, the recovered seized items include 208 AK47 rifles, 34 fabricated and 45 dane guns, 18 assorted arms, 3,672 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 2,058 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 422 assorted ammunitions.

In the North Central, Buba said operations conducted by troops of Operation Safe Haven in several hot spots neutralised 32 terrorists and violent extremists and arrested 148 while 35 kidnap hostages were rescued.

He said the troops equally recovered 23 AK47 rifles, 19 fabricated guns, 93 assorted arms, 788 rounds of 7.62mm special, 451 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 256 assorted ammunitions.

The defence spokesman also said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke had conducted operations to several criminal strongholds in April.

“Overall, troops neutralised 60 terrorists,  arrested 99 suspects and rescued 57 kidnapped hostages and also recovered 40 AK47 rifles, 60 assorted arms, 917 rounds of 7.62mm special, 896 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 331 assorted ammunitions,’’ he said.

In the North West, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji maintained the momentum against terrorists hibernating in Bayan Ruwa and other enclaves.

Responding to questions, Buba said there has been linkage between illegal mining and acts of terrorism in the region, as well as foreign involvement in illegal mining.

He said the troops neutralised no fewer than 297 terrorist, apprehended 141 suspects and rescued 143 kidnap hostages within the period, in addition to the recovery of  182 AK47 rifles, 57 fabricated guns, 71 assorted arms, 4,192 rounds of 7.62mm special, 2,341 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 556 assorted ammunitions.

Under Operation Whirl Punch, Buba said the troops neutralised 31 terrorist, arrested 69 suspects, rescued 17 kidnap victims, and recovered 20 AK47 rifles, 28 assorted arms, 538 rounds of 7.62mm special, 397 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 1,200 assorted ammunitions.

In the South-South, he said the troops of Operation Delta Safe neutralised nine violent extremists, arrested 164 persons involved in crude oil theft and recovered 2,563,335 liters of crude oil, 254,620 liters of AGO, 1,050 liters of DPK and 8,000 liters of PMS.

He added that troops also recovered 56 assorted weapons and destroyed 74 wooden boats, 1,501 assorted ammunitions and 76 illegal refining sites during the month.

The defence spokesman added that in the South East, troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised 38 terrorist, arrested 103 suspects and rescued 50 kidnap hostages.

According to him, 8 AK47 rifles, 23 pump action guns, 661 rounds of 7.62mm special, 34 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 589 live cartridges, 225 assorted ammunitions and 43 other equipment were recovered within the month under review.