On Friday, January 28, 2022, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, denied the no-case submission submitted by one Osho Aluko-Kola, who is facing a nine-count allegation of conspiracy and stealing worth N206, 502,490.02.
Aluko-Kola is on trial with six companies: Centurion Registrars Limited, United Securities Limited, Evolution Construction & Engineering Design Limited, Cities & Towers Logistics Limited, Continental Exim Nigeria Limited, and Diffusion Impex Limited. He was originally arraigned on July 4, 2020.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Osho Aluko-Kola, Alake Olatokunbo (now at large), Centurion Registrars Limited, United Securities Limited, Evolution Construction & Engineering Design Limited, Cities & Towers Logistics Limited, Continental Exim Nigeria Limited and Diffusion Impex Limited, between 2015 and 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to commit felony, to wit: stealing the sum of N206,502,490.02 (Two Hundred and Six Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety Naira, Two Kobo), property of Chief Chukwudozie Nwanneka Daniel, and committed an offence contrary to Section 411 and punishable under Section 287 (5) & (9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
According to EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, Aluko-Kola pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.
The prosecuting counsel, Franklin Ofoma, had, on June 23, 2021, closed the case of the prosecution, after calling four witnesses and tendering several documents to prove the case.
However, rather than open defence on October 4, 2021, as ordered by the Court, the defendants chose to apply for a no-case submission.
Ruling on the various arguments canvassed by the defence in support of the application during today’s proceedings, Justice Dada held that a prima facie case had indeed been established against the defendants.
Justice Dada held that: “I am satisfied that enough evidence linking them to the charges has been established and so prima facie case is made against them.
“The no-case submission is hereby overruled and they are called upon to put in their defence.”
The case has been adjourned till February 14, 2022 for defence
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
