CRIME Alleged N3.3bn Fraud: Court Threatens To Jail Obanikoro For Contempt

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday threatened to jail a former minister of state for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, for contempt of court if he fails to attend court on February 18 to conclude his testimony in the trial of former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The judge made the threat after he was informed by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) that Obanikoro was unable to attend court because he was ill and on admission at the hospital. Jacobs, who stated that he was unable to reach the former minister on phone, stated that he received a medical report through an employee of the witness, issued by a clinic located in Ikoyi, Lagos. After presenting the report to the judge, Justice Olatoregun noted that if the court should verify the medical report, the doctor, and the hospital that issued it would lose their licence. She, however stated that the court will grant an adjournment because of Jacobs, who is a very responsible senior member of the Bar and “not because of this worthless pieces of papers.” The court further said that if Obanikoro fails to appear at the next adjourned date he may be committed to three months imprisonment “so that he can be coming to court in black maria.” “He must present himself to the court at the next adjourned date or be compelled to do so,” the judge ruled.