‘I’ve no case to answer’ – Oyo Former Governor, Ladoja tells court
A former Governor of Oyo State , Chief Rashidi Ladoja , on Monday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss the N 4. 7bn fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Ladoja , through his lawyer , Mr Bolaji Onilenla, contended that the charges against him were baseless and remained unproven despite that the EFCC called witnesses and tendered a load of documents.
Onilenla said the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against Ladoja and urged Justice Mohammed Idris to discharge and acquit the ex -governor rather than call upon him to put up any defence.
He said , “ Most of the counts were not well founded in law . In the first count , it is said that the defendants conspired; to prove the allegation , the prosecution relied on Exhibit 8; we have argued that the documents will not constitute a legally- admissible evidence .
“ The same goes for counts two , three , four and five because they are related .
“ As for count six, their own witness, Mr Atanda, repeatedly told the court that the money he used to purchase an armoured vehicle for the 1st defendant was a loan. The question that the defendant knew that the funds were proceeds of crime cannot stand . ”
Ladoja ’ s lawyer added that the allegation that the ex -governor took £600, 000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja , who was at the time in London, could also not stand .
According to him , the second prosecution witness had under cross – examination admitted that he neither knew how the £600, 000 was allegedly delivered to Bimpe Ladoja in London nor had any document to show that Bimpe Ladoja acknowledged the receipt of the money.
“ We urge the court to hold that there is no prima facie case against the 1st defendant and the court is urged to discharge and acquit him , ” Onilenla said .
On his own part, Ladoja ’ s co-defendant, Waheed Akanbi – a former Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State – through his lawyer , Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika ( SAN) , equally filed a no – case submission, urging the court to set him free .
But the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC , Mr Adebisi Oluwafemi, maintained that the prosecution had raised questions which the court must call on the defendants to answer.
“ We urge the court to call upon the defendants to answer the questions by way of putting in their defence, ” Oluwafemi said .
He added that the preliminary objection filed by Ladoja could at best be described as premature .
After taking arguments from both sides , Justice Idris adjourned till November 12, 2018 for ruling .