Akingbola to be re-arraigned March 24

Administrative mix-up on Monday forced a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to adjourn the re-arraignment of a former managing director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola till March 24, 2014.
Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo fixed March 24, 25 and 27 for re-arraignment and commencement of Akingbola’s trial following the mix up which led to the omission of his matter from the list of Monday’s proceedings.
Akingbola and his co-defendant, Bayo Dada were present in court but the judge noted that the matter was not listed.
The Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Godwin Obla, admitted that it was not proper to arraign the defendants since the case was not listed for the day.
Akingbola and Dada were charged to court for allegedly stealing N47.1 billion belonging to the defunct Intercontinental Bank.
They are facing a 22-count charge of stealing and obtaining money by false pretences.
Akingbola and Dada had pleaded not guilty to the 22 count charges of stealing preferred against them by the commission.
The duo were earlier arraigned on May 31, 2011 before Justice Habeeb Abiru before the judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
The matter was later re- assigned to Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo and the defendants were re-arraigned on February 26 this year.
Their case file was again transferred to Justice Lawal-Akapo following the recent changes in the state judiciary that moved Justice Onigbanjo to the Commercial Division of the court.