A former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana and now chieftain of the All progressives Congress (APC), Musiliu Obanikoro, risks being committed to prison, says Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who is hearing a case of alleged N2.2 billion fraud against a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.
The case was stalled, on Thursday due to the absence of the prosecution’s star witness, Obanikoro.
Prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the judge that Obanikoro, who was in court only, on Tuesday, testifying against Fayose, had been hospitalised.
Jacobs presented to the court a medical report from an Ikoyi hospital, stating that Obanikoro was unwell.
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But receiving the report with misgivings, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun said it had better been genuine or the hospital and the doctor that issued it risked the loss of their licences, if the court verified the report and it was not genuine.
While adjourning the case till March 18, Justice Olatoregun said Obanikoro must unfailingly come to court, or risked being committed to prison for three months, “so that he can be coming to court in Black Maria.
“He must present himself before the court on the next adjourned date or be compelled to do so,” Justice Olatoregun stressed.
Obanikoro is testifying against Fayose, who was his ally in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before he (Obanikoro) decamped to the APC.
