Court refuses EFCC's request to order arrest of Cross Country boss

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(Nigeria) A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Monday refused to grant the request made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of a popular transporter, Bube Okorodudu.
In his ruling, trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo dismissed the application, which was filed by the counsel of the EFCC.
The EFCC had requested for the warrant, following Okorodudu's refusal to appear before the court to take his plea.
Okorodudu and his transport firm, Cross Country Ltd are charged with alleged N82.8 million theft.
They are charged alongside another company, Car Link Ltd.
They are facing an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering.
In the ruling, the judge held that an accused presence’s was not mandatory at the hearing of the preliminary objection.
"The Court of Appeal held that the presence of the accused can be dispensed with pending the hearing and determination of the application challenging the charge. The lower court is bound by the decision of the higher court.
``Therefore, the invitation to issue the bench warrant is declined and the application is hereby refused."
Lawal-Akapo adjourned until May 7 for hearing of Okorodudu's application challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
The application, the EFCC alleged that the accused stole the money through the fraudulent sale of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses, belonging to AG Moeller Ltd and Mr Adeloye Olukemi.
The EFCC had on March 3 prayed the court to issue the bench warrant against Okorodudu to enable him to be produced before the court.
Okorodudu's Counsel, had objected to the application, insisting that there was a subsisting application by his client, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.


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