NEW JUDGE TO TRY AKALA'S CORRUPTION CASE

By NBF News

By OLA AJAYI
IBADAN - THE corruption charges levelled against the former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State, and two of his aides by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has been transferred to another judge for a fresh trial.

The ex-governor, his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters then, Senator Hosea Agboola and a private businessman, Femi Babalola were alleged to have mismanaged the sum of N115 billion during their tenure.

Shortly after the former governor and his aides were granted bail, the opposition in the state had alleged that the judge, Justice Mashood Abass and the ex-governor were close friends and that they did not have confidence that justice would be delivered as expected.

Instead of the judge, Justice Abass of the State High Court  to handle the case, it was heard before another judge, Justice  Akintunde Boade.

The accused were arraigned  in October on an 11-count charge but they were granted bail by Justice Abass.

At the sitting of the court yesterday, the lead counsel to the accused, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN frowned at the arbitrary transfer of the case from the previous court after the prosecution counsel, Godwin Obla had said he only got the wind of the transfer yesterday morning.