Justice Okon Abang of the federal high court Abuja Thursday, granted the request by Mr.Adeola Adedipe, a defence lawyer to withdraw from the N2 billion money laundering case involving Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).
Justice Abang granted the request in a short ruling at the resumed trial after the lawyer moved the application for leave to withdraw.
The application Abang held succeeded in accordance with Section 349(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
While acknowledging the notice of disengagement with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/258/2019 dated and filed on Nov 25, Justice Abang issued an order discharging the lawyer from the case.
“Counsel having filed an application in line with Section 349(7) of ACJA 2015 to withdraw his legal representation for the 2nd defendant, the order is hereby granted,” he ruled.
This medium reports that Adedipe counsel who filed the application on November 25, 2020, had until recently appeared for Maina’s company -Common Input Limited.
The company was joined as the second defendant in the money laundering trial in the suit.
Adedipe had, on Nov. 25, hinged his decision to quit the case on the grounds that his brief had not been perfected by his client.
But Justice Abang had turned down the application by the lawyer to quit the case.
The judge declined to grant the lawyer’s plea on the premise that the application was not in the court file.
Justice Abang adjourned the matter until Dec. 4 for the continuation of trial in absentia.
