THE presiding judge on the N8bn currency scam involving some staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and commercial banks in Ibadan, Oyo State, Justice Olayinka Faji on Friday refused to disqualify himself and granted stay of proceedings pending the determination of a motion at the Court of Appeal.
Delivering his ruling at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, in charge FHC/IB/31c/2015, involving eight suspects —Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philip, Isaac Akano, Ayodele Festus Adeyemi, Oyebamiji Akeem, Ayodeji Aleshe and Ajiwe Sunday Adegoke, Justice Faji said the ruling applied to all other cases —FHC/IB/32c/2015, FHC/IB/33c/2015 and FHC/IB/34c/2015, in a 77-count charge before him.
Counsel appearances at the court on Friday included prosecution team led by Tayo Olukotun, A.C Adetifa (Mrs) and Sola Obaribirin, holding brief for Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Others included Chief O. Bolanle for the first defendant, Olalekan Ojo for the second and third defendants, Nathaniel O. Oke (SAN) for the fourth defendant, Michael Lana for the fifth and eight defendants and F.J. Edema for the sixth defendant.
Ojo, in a motion dated June 26, had accused Judge Faji of bias and partiality in his 111 pages ruling on bail applications on June 19,2015, at the Court of Appeal.
In his motion, Barrister Ojo prayed that the judge should disqualify himself in the ruling and stay proceedings pending the determination of his bias or otherwise in the case before the Court of Appeal.
Faji, in his ruling, dismissed Ojo’s first prayer requesting him to disqualify himself, while he granted order to stay proceedings pending the determination of the Court of Appeal whether he is bias or not
(Nigerian Tribune)
