Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, revoked the bail of Olugbenga Obadina, Managing Director of Almond Properties Limited, who is standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering, and ordered that he should be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the next trial date scheduled for January 30 and 31, 2019.
Obadina was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for receiving N2,417,000,000 (Two Billion Four Hundred and Seventeen Million Naira) from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), for contracts that were never executed.
The trial judge had on Thursday, January 17, 2019 noted with displeasure, the absence of the defendant and his counsel, and ordered that the defence show the court cause, why the bail granted to Obadina on July 18, 2016 should not be revoked.
Goddy Uche, SAN counsel for the defendant told the court that his client had been in and out of the hospital following a surgery he undertook at Lagoon Hospital, Lagos, recently.
He said: “I plead with my lord to look favourably at the defendant and temper justice with mercy due to his poor health as he is presently using crutches to walk.
“We cannot take the court for granted and on behalf of the defendant, I will like to state that there will be no more absence from the court.”
The judge, in his response, however, dismissed the appeal, and revoked his bail.
The trial judge held that: “I will revoke this bail as it appears you are playing with me coming back with one excuse or the other.
“In making my decision, I have considered the submissions from the defence counsel; however this is a court of record, and the question put to the defence was to show cause why the bail should not be revoked.
“Unfortunately, the medical report which is meant to be a supporting document was not tendered.
“To demonstrate the seriousness of this matter, we cannot rely on mere hearsay; after you get the medical report, you can file for an application of motion for re-instalment for bail, pending the next hearing date for continuation of trial.”
