A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to dismiss a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against wife of a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Cecilia Osipitan.
Justice Inyang Ekwo warned he would strike out the suit over late filing of documents needed in the commencement of Mrs Osipitan’s trial by counsel to the EFCC, Chris Mshelia.
Osipitan and her company, PJO Ventures Limited, were sued in a nine-count money laundering charge to the tune of N6 billion by the anti-graft agency.
Osipitan, who was arraigned on March 26, 2021, was admitted to bail in the sum of N200 million with a surety in the like sum.
She was alleged to have received the money through her company to acquire choice property in parts of the country.
However at the resumed trial, Mr Mshelia said though the matter was slated for trial commencement and a witness was in court, he said that an additional proof of evidence and additional list of witnesses had just been filed the previous day.
“Is it going to affect today’s trial,” the judge asked.
“Yes, some of the documents are part of today’s proceeding,” Mshelia responded.
The judge, who recalled that the last proceeding in the matter was on July 13, 2021, expressed surprise that the lawyer only came to file his documents a day before sitting.
The judge then adjourned the trial until April 5, April 6 and April 7.
