The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has kicked against moves by the Lagos State Government to take over alleged forgery against a lawyer, Oyinkansola Alakija, alongside her father-in-law, Alaba Alakija, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada.
It would be recalled that the anti-graft agency had on April 16, 2024, arraigned the duo on an amended two-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy and using false document, reports Daily Independent.
According to the EFCC, the lawyer, alongside her father-in-law, allegedly conspired to use a false document, titled: ‘Vesting Deed by Dr Omodele Alakija and Mr Afolabi Alakija’, the executors of the Estate of the late Sir Ademola Alakija, purporting the same to be made by Dr Omodele Alakija and Mr Afolabi Alakija.
The Commission had also insisted that the offence was committed on or about August 6, 2015, with the intent to financially benefit from a property located at No. 10, Keffi Street, southwest, Ikoyi, Lagos.
While their arraignment lasted, the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution to pray to Honourable Justice Dada for a trial date and the remand of the defendants at a correctional facility.
In his response, the counsel for the first defendant, Yemi Akangbe (SAN) notified the trial court of his client’s bail application, which had been filed and served on the prosecution.
In moving the application, the SAN had prayed to the court to grant bail to his client in the most liberal terms.
This is even as the counsel for the second defendant, Victor Giwa, who asked Honourable Justice Dada to be allowed to move his client’s bail application orally, having come from out of the jurisdiction, stated that Oyinkansola at the time had a two-month-old baby, whom she still breastfeeds, and that she would not jump bail.
In her ruling, after entertaining arguments from the parties, Honourable Justice Dada granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N10 million with sureties in like sum who must submit their international passports to the court.
Oyinkan was subsequently also granted bail on N10 million surgeries and travelling documents deposited with the court.
The judge had further directed that the international passport of the second defendant be kept in the custody of the court.
Meanwhile, at the resumed proceedings on the criminal matter, the LASG’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, through its counsel, B.T. Boye, made moves to take over the prosecution of the criminal case against the defendants.
However, the lawyer for the EFCC, M.S. Owede contended that the letter the anti-graft agency received from the office of the DPP was a request to make a duplicate copy of the file and not to take over the prosecution.
Justice Dada adjourned until October 30, 2024, for a report after lawyers in the matter had sought the said adjournment for the report of the actual position of the office of the DPP.
