By Olawale Akinremi
Ibadan – Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday struck out the application seeking to disqualify her as the trial judge in the N8 billion CBN currency scam case.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kolawole Babalola, Muniru Olaniran, Philip Togun, Isiaq Akano, Ayodeji Alese and Sunday Ajuwe, along with others since 2015, had been on trial in the case.
They were arraigned on multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and recirculation of mutilated currencies in Ibadan office of the CBN.
NAN reports that the disqualification application was filed by Mr Michael Lana, counsel to the fifth defendant, Festus Adeyemi.
Lana, however, would later file another application to stop the judge from going ahead with the disqualification matter.
Consequently, the defence counsel filed a fresh application in which he stated that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.
“I have received an order withdrawing the earlier application that asked me to withdraw from further trial of this matter; same is hereby struck out,” the judge ruled.
Abdulmaleek consequently received the fresh application filed by Lana.
At the resumption of proceedings, the lead counsel for the first to the fourth defendants, Mr R.O. Sadiq, prayed the court to consider the bail application of his clients in view of their poor health.
Mr Adebisi Adeniyi, the counsel to the EFCC, however, firmly opposed the prayer, arguing that the court must first determine whether it had jurisdiction to hear the matter or not.
The judge upheld the objection raised by prosecution and adjourned ruling on the application till May 30.