By Vivian Okejeme
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) to produce an Abuja-based estate agent in court to continue her trial of alleged land fraud, forgery, and money laundering.
The order is following her absence in court for the continuation of her criminal trial.
At resumed proceeding, Tuesday, counsel to the prosecution, Benedict Ubi informed the court that the Rebecca Omokamo was in ‘self-imposed house arrest sequel to the order of the court for an interim forfeiture of a disputed land.
The EFCC said the defendant is obstructing it’s officers from carrying out the order of the court.
The anti-garft agency also accused Mrs Omokamo of breaching the terms of her administrative bail by traveling repeatedly out of jurisdiction.
In his responds, counsel to the defendant, Christopher Oshomeghie, SAN, told the court that EFCC officials
had laid siege on the home of his client for 23 days, adding that she has not been outdoors for all that period as she fears for her life.
Oshimeghie noted that menacing, gun-wielding officers of the EFCC took over the property of his clients in a 23-day siege. He says she is in a very poor state of health for having to be indoor for that long.
However, prosecutor insisted that the defendant has the keys and that it was she who locked herself in her apartment and not the EFCC officers on enforcement duty.
In a bench ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered the EFCC to keep the defendant in their custody till Thursday July 23, for the continuation of trial.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the anti-corruption agency to produce the defendant in court after her counsel confirmed that she had the keys to the apartment and not the men of the EFCC.
Earlier, during the civil lawsuit, Mr Ubi had informed the court of a pending application for the final forfeiture of the disputed property and pending application by a party seeking to join the suit.
The prosecution submitted that the application for joinder supercedes any other, and that will be accorded priority by the court at the moment.
The other defendants in the suit are Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John, and Rychado Homes Limited.
Only the third defendant, Richard John, the CEO of Rychado Homes Limited was available in court at the resumed hearing.
Meantime, the civil case was adjourned till 15 October for hearing of all pending applications.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
