Fayose's Trial: Why Judge threatens to jail Obanikoro

Thu, Feb 7, 2019 | By publisher


Judiciary

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun says he will jail Musiliu Obanikoro, prosecution’s star witness, if he fails to appear before the court again

 

JUSTICE Mojisola Olatoregun is not happy with the reason given by Musiliu Obanikoro, star prosecution witness in the trial of Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, for not appearing in the court today.

Rotimi Jacobs, prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, SAN, told the judge that Obanikoro, who testified in the court on Tuesday had been hospitalised.

He stated that Obanikoro was sick and presented a medical report from an Ikoyi hospital to back is claim.

But receiving the report with misgivings, Justice Olatoregun said it had better been genuine or the hospital and the doctor that issued it risked the loss of their licences, if the court verified the report and it was not genuine.

Because of Obanikoro’s absense, the N2.2bn fraud trial of  Fayose, was stalled on Thursday.

While adjourning the case till March 18, Justice Olatoregun said Obanikoro must unfailingly come to court, or risked being committed to prison for three months, “so that he can be coming to court in Black Maria.”

“He must present himself before the court on the next adjourned date or be compelled to do so,”  Olatoregun said.

Obanikoro is testifying against Fayose, who was his ally in the Peoples Democratic Party before he (Obanikoro) decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress. – with reports from Punch

– Feb. 7, 2019 @ 3.39 GMT |

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