A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, reserved judgment in the criminal case against a former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, and one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi, charged with N4.7 billion fraud.
Justice Mohammed Idris reserved his judgment after counsel representing parties had adopted their final addresses before the court.
Mr Ladoja was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with converting N4.7billion from the State’s treasury to his personal use.
He was re-arraigned along with Mr Akanbi, his former Commissioner for Finance, on 11-count charge of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were granted bails.
NAN reports that evidences in the trial closed on November 17, after Ladoja had given his evidence before the court.
The court had then adjourned for adoption of final addresses.
Adopting his address on Monday, the prosecutor, Oluwafemi Olabisi, urged the court to hold that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the accused based on evidences adduced.
He added that the court was enjoined to look at circumstantial evidences in arriving at its decision.
Mr Olabisi urged the court to discountenance evidences adduced by defence witnesses, and hold that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the accused.
On his part, defense counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused on the grounds that the prosecution had a weak case incapable of securing any conviction.
After listening to the submissions of the counsels, Justice Idris commended them for seeing the trial to conclusion.
He informed parties that his judgment would be reserved, and that hearing notices would be sent to counsel in a short while.
