N8bn Currency Scam: Judge Refuses to Withdraw, Denies Sick Banker Bail

 Efforts to make Justice Olayinka Faji disqualify himself from the trial of bankers over recirculation of N8 billion mutilated currency into circulation thereby committing economic crimes by their counsel on Friday failed as the judge refused to withdraw from the case despite allegation of bias and pending application filed against his ruling in the Court of Appeal.

Justice Faji had on June 19 refused the bail applications of the accused persons on the ground that prima facie had already been established against them by the prosecutor, the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was accused of delving into the res of the matter even before the commencement of the full trial of the case by the counsel to the defendants.

While Justice Faaji granted stay of proceeding, he however ruled out disqualifying himself from the case.

Delivering his ruling in the case which involved Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola, Toogun Philip, Isaac Akano, Ayodele Adeyemi, Oyebamiji Akeem, Ayodeji Aleshe and Ajiwe Adegoke, Faji said, “I therefore grant the prayer of the motion filed on 26/06/2015 as prayed since the appeal relating to charges FH/IB/32c-34c are pending summons applications. This motion applies to the three other charges”.

Counsel to four of the accused, Barristers Olalekan Ojo and Otunba O. Bolanle had prayed the judge to disqualify himself over his comments and stay proceedings pending the determination of a motion at the court of appeal.

Also, the judge refused a suspect Oni Dolapo an opportunity to secure the leave of the court to attend to 'his failing health' in a Lagos hospital.
Faaji was told of how Dolapo was diagnosed of having hypertensive heart disease by the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan by his counsel, Yakubu Ruba.

Ruba who produced a letter from the hospital stating that the hospital had no facility to treat him immediately added that the ailment stopped his client from making it to the court on Friday.

Ruba also made oral application, praying the court to allow his client to be taken to Lagos for treatment.

Oni Dolapo, Afolabi Olunike, Ademola Adewale and Omotosho Abimbola, who is now at large, are standing trial for economic crime involving N1.7b. They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

But Justice Faaji frowned at the counsel oral application, saying that since he was not informed that Dolapo was being taken to the hospital for treatment and diagnosis by the prison management, there was no point asking the court for his transfer to Lagos.

Ruba told journalist after the proceeding that his client deserved best treatment to stand a chance of continuing the trial.

He said, “My client is seriously sick with a hole in the heart in prison custody but the court insisted that we should come properly and unfortunately the court is going on vacation today until around September 15 before the court resumes.”