The absence of the prosecution on Thursday forced Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, to adjourn until March 21 continuation of trial in a N19 million fraud instituted against two men — Rasak Kareem and Adewale Oladejo.
The prosecutor, Mr Tijani William, was absent at Thursday’s proceedings without notification.
Mr Adeleke Bakare, the defence counsel, had lamented the absence of the prosecutor without any notice to the court.
“My Lord, it is regrettable that the prosecution is not here today because we are not sure whether he has finished calling his witnesses or not so that we can open our defence.
“We are fully ready to start our defence,” he told the court.
Both Kareem and Oladejo have been facing trial over a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful obtaining of money under false pretences since 2015.
According to the prosecutor, Mr Collins Owen, the complainant, had complained of a severe headache to Kareem and Oladejo, who presented themselves as `witch doctors’.
He said the duo fraudulently obtained N19 million both in naira and dollar from Owen under the pretext that they could cure the headache.
However, there was no improvement in Owen’s health condition while the accused reportedly disappeared.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
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