A High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday ordered an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Muhammed Goldy, to appear to testify in the alleged N11.5 billion fraud case filed against former Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and two others.
The EFCC charged Alao-Akala, Senator Hosea Agboola popularly known as Halleluyah, former Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Femi Babalola, a businessman, on 11 counts of conspiracy and fraud.
According to the Nation, Justice Olalekan Owolabi issued the summons on the defendants, after EFCC’s lawyer, Dr Benedict Ubi, prayed the court for the order.
Justice Owolabi also issued witness summons on officials from the Oyo State Ministry of Finance, Mr Olutoyin Akanmu, Mr Florence Oyebanji and Mr Adebayo Bankole.
Others are: Mr Ademola Ojo of 4 Bodija area, Mr Thomas Oladokun from Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Director in the Federal Ministry of Works in-charge of Oyo and Osun wtates.
The judge held that the application moved by the prosecution was a bit late but was proper to grant it in the interest of fair hearing.
The judge also held that the application to close the case of the prosecution, earlier moved by the defence counsel, would amount to denying the prosecutor fair hearing.
He adjourned the matter till February 14, 2020, for continuation of hearing.
