Alleged N82.8m theft: Cross Country chairman wants court to stay proceedings

Alleged N82.8m theft: Cross Country chairman wants court to stay proceedings

FRANCIS IWUCHUKWU

Lagos division of the Court of Appeal sitting in Igbosere was today prayed, by the Chairman of Cross Country Limited, Mr. Bube Okorodudu to stay further proceedings in an action instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) over allegation of theft to the tune of N82.8 million.

Specifically at Monday’s hearing on the matter, lawyer to the transport merchant, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN) told the appellate court that his client had already challenged the jurisdiction of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja to entertain the suit.

The senior lawyer equally stated that the trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo had earlier ordered a bench warrant against him (Okorodudu) over his failure to appear before the court below to take his plea.

Chief Clarke further intimated the appellate court that the matter would be coming up today (Tuesday) before the Ikeja High Court, just as he prayed the Court of Appeal to issue an order for the maintainance of status quo pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Consequently, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Samuel Oseji instructed Okorodudu to put the EFCC on notice before the substantive appeal could be heard. The appellate court also ordered lawyer to the transport magnet to intimate Justice Lawal-Akapo that the appeal is already before the Appellate court.

Justice Oseji thereafter adjourned hearing of the appeal till September 24, 2014.

It would be recalled that the lower court had issued a bench warrant against Okorodudu over his alleged refusal to show up before the court to take his plea over an alleged N82.8 million theft charge made against him by the anti-graft agency.

Others charged alongside the Cross Country boss includes his two companies, Cross Country Limited and Car Link Limited. Specifically, the judge directed the Nigerian Police to effect the arrest and produce the transport guru before the court on July 8, 2014 for arraignment.

The transporter and his two companies--- Cross Country Limited and Car Link Limited were charged to court by the EFCC to answer question to an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering.

The anti-graft agency had alleged that Okorodudu alongside others stole the said sum through what it termed the fraudulent sale of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Limited and one Mr Adeloye Olukemi.