Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital has, again, adjourned the trial of the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, till after his (Oluomo) election.

The case was adjourned, for the second time, till March 29th and 30th, 2022 for commencement of hearing.

Olumo was arraigned before a Lagos High Court in September 2022 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC after his arrest some days earlier.  

The Speaker who is standing trial, alongside others, over an alleged N2.9billion embezzlement case is the candidate of the All Progressives congress, APC, in Ifo I State Constituency.

Oluomo’s election, according to the timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, holds on March 11.

Oluomo who had arrived the court early in the morning on his official vehicle and convoy, was left stranded inside the court for more than one hour.

It was later communicated by an official of the court that the case has been adjourned till the last days of March, 2023.

It was observed that some lawyers were invited to the private chamber of the judge while case files were also taken from the open court to the chambers.

Upon arrival from the chambers, one of the lawyers who was not willing to talk told journalists to approach the registry for details of the adjournments.

When asked for the reason for the adjournment, the lawyer said, “the registrar will tell you the reason” as he walked away.

Information gathered within the court had it that the case was postponed due to acclaimed ill health of Justice Abdulmalik.

HorizonTimes gathered that while the lawyers were invited to the chambers, appearances were recorded before the Judge informed them of her ill health and that a criminal case can not be held in the Chambers.

It was further gathered that Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) led three other counsels in the case with suit number FHC/AB/61C/2022, while one Akinyemi Oluwole appeared for the accused persons.

Commencement of hearing was earlier scheduled for 21st November, 2022 but was stalled due to pre-election matters before the judge.

The speaker and three others; and Oladayo Samuel, Adeyemo Adedeji Taiwo, and Adeyanju Nimota-Amoke are facing a nine-count charge of corruption, embezzlement, stealing among others.

The EFCC further said the act is against the provision of sections 18 (a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

The anti-graft agency had also quizzed and charged the speaker for another missing N900,000,000 public funds allegedly embezzled by the defendants.

HorizonTimes had exclusively reported how the Assembly under Oluomo allegedly forged documents belonging to filling stations belonging to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the immediate past Speaker of the House, Suraj Isola Adekunbi.