N47.1bn theft: You can’t try me, Akingbola tells court

A former Managing Director of defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, yesterday challenged the jurisdiction of a Lagos High Court to entertain the N47.1 billion theft charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former bank chief, made two separate preliminary notices of objection filed by his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.
His co-accused, Bayo Dada, also filed a similar application before the court.
Olanipekun at the resumption of proceedings yesterday, informed the court about the applications. He said the applications had been served on the EFCC.
He argued that since the matter was starting de novo (afresh), it was better for the applications to be taken before any further development.

Amongst the grounds canvassed by Olanipekun for challenging the court’s jurisdiction was that there was a similar charge involving Akingbola and the EFCC currently pending before the Federal High Court, Lagos.
He argued that the main witnesses listed in the proof of evidence at the Federal High Court were the same witnesses also listed in the proof of evidence before the Lagos High Court

According to him, the subject matter of the alleged offences related to banking operations and operations of capital issues which fell under the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
The EFCC counsel, Mr Emmanuel Ukala, in this response, said the applications were premature and should be held in abeyance by the court.

He argued that the applications offended Section 262 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos state 2011, which provided for speedy dispensation of criminal matters.
In his ruling, Justice Lawal Akapo opted for hearing of the applications before further development on the matter.
He fixed April 2, for hearing of arguments by the parties after directing that the applications should be consolidated.