Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court Ibadan, on Thursday cautioned the defence counsel in the alleged N8 billion CBN scam, Mr Olayinka Bolanle, not to frustrate smooth trial and conclusion of the suit.
Emmanuel made the appeal after Bolanle refused to make an appearance, an action that prevented the case from going ahead.
The judge expressed dissatisfaction that the matter and other ”sister cases” had dragged for too long, noting that the delay was portraying the court in bad light.
“Please, there is no need bringing up issues unnecessarily and wasting the precious time of the court.
“Let us conclude the matters in time.
“I can’t imagine coming all the way from where I have just been transferred from and doing nothing here. I am tired of all these delays.
“Please, the defence counsel should cooperate so that we can complete the matters in time and I wonder why you defendants are not bothered about how your counsel are wasting your time.
“Let us complete these matters latest by the end of this year,” Emmanuel said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bolanle, had on Wednesday’s proceeding, informed the court that he was indisposed and needed time to recuperate before he could continue with the suits.
Meanwhile, the judge would on Friday rule in the no-case-submission filed by another defendant, Muniru Olaniran in a sister CBN case.
NAN reports that Muniru Olaniran, Kolawole Babalola, Philip Togun, Patience Okoro, Ilori Adekunle, Emmanuel Ordia, Johnson Afolabi along with others in EFCC custody were since 2015 facing multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery, stealing and recirculation of mutilated currencies at the Ibadan branch of CBN. (NAN)
