The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alex Okoh

  • Money laundering: Babalakin’s co- defendant to travel abroad

    A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted leave to Mr. Alex Okoh, co-defendant to the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Service Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin, in the allegedN4.7 billion money laundering charge to travel to United States for business meeting.

    The court presided by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to release Okoh’s international passport to enable him travel abroad.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo issued the order while ruling in an application filed by the defendant.

    Okoh had applied for leave of the court to enable him attend a business meeting in U.S. The meeting takes place from May 13- 30.

    He is standing trial alongside Babalakin and his companies – Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited for allegedly aiding former Delta State Governor, James Ibori to launder the said money abroad.

    They are facing a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct.

    Both defendants have since filed objection to the charges and are challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

     

     

  • Court adjourns hearing of Babalakin, others’ applications

    Court adjourns hearing of Babalakin, others’ applications

    The Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday adjourned the hearing of an application filed by the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Mr. Wale Babalakin, to March 14.

    Babalakin, in the application filed before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, asked the court to dismiss the N4.7 billion fraud charge preferred against him and four others.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that they are facing a 27-count charge of conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

    Babalakin’s co-defendants; Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited had also filed similar applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charges.

    They also challenged the competency of the charges, arguing that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lacked the power to prosecute them before a state high court without a valid fiat.

    During Monday’s proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that he sprained his ankle last week, in an accident.

    Jacobs said he could not undertake the business of the day (hearing of arguments on the applications), due to the unfortunate incident.

    He, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment.

    On his part, Babalakin’s counsel, Dr. Abiodun Layonu (SAN), urged the court to allow the defence to adopt their written addresses in support of the applications.

    After listening to the requests, the judge held that he was inclined to grant the adjournment on the basis of Jacobs’ injury.

    “If you have an injury just on your fingertip, it will affect the whole of your system completely,” Lawal-Akapo said.

    He, therefore, adjourned the case till March 14.

     

  • Court adjourns Babalakin’s trial till February 17

    Court adjourns Babalakin’s trial till February 17

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Monday adjourned the trial of the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Wale Babalakin till February 17, to enable the defence lawyers to regularise their applications.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Babalakin is being prosecuted for an alleged N4.7 billion fraud before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged him for allegedly transferring the monies on behalf of convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

    He is standing trial alongside Alex Okoh and their companies – Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited, and Renix Nigeria Limited.

    The defendants are facing a 27-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

    During Monday’s proceedings, the judge informed the parties that he needed time to examine some of the processes filed by the defence lawyers.

    He said, “Apart from Roland Otaru (counsel to the third defendant), all the other applications were brought to my attention about 20 minutes ago.

    “In a matter of this nature, it is always good to study the processes and ask pertinent questions as the matter goes along.

    “What I will suggest is that counsel to the defendants sit and identify all these processes and their facts to be sure that all the processes are filed.’’

     

     

  • Babalakin challenges court’s jurisdiction to hear N4.7b suit

    Babalakin challenges court’s jurisdiction to hear N4.7b suit

    The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin, yesterday challenged the jurisdiction of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja to entertain the N4.7 billion fraud charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Babalakin is being tried by the commission alongside four others. They are: Alex Okoh, Stabilini Vision Limited, his company, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited, for allegedly transferring N4.7 billion out of the country on behalf of the convicted former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

    The defendants were billed for a fresh arraignment before a new trial judge, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo.

    This followed the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, to the Commercial Division of the High Court from the Criminal Division.

    The EFCC alleged that Babalakin and his co-defendants fraudulently assisted Ibori to transfer huge sums of money through various parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of a Challenger jet aircraft.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    At the resumed trial yesterday, Babalakin and his co-defendants rejected their arraignment because of their pending applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    But counsel to EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), expressed disappointment that Babalakin was not in court.

    He urged the court to revoke the bail granted him for failing to attend proceedings twice.

    The lawyer argued that Babalakin’s absence in court was a breach of his bail conditions and that the act was a disrespect to the court.

    But Babalakin’s counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), urged the court to discountenance Jacob’s appeal for revocation of Babalakin’s bail.

    Akoni submitted that Babalakin’s absence was on the ground of his pending application challenging the charges and jurisdiction of the court.

    He said one of the prayers in the application, which was about to be heard by the former trial judge, was that Babalakin’s physical appearance be dispensed with pending the determination of the application.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo was unhappy with Babalakin’s absence in court.

    The trial judge said the defendants ought to be in court, adding that bails are granted to ensure that defendants are in court at a named date, irrespective of whatever happens in court.

    But in the middle of the ruling of the trial judge, Babalakin walked into the courtroom.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo, therefore, ordered that the matter be recalled to acknowledge his presence.

    Akoni, however, insisted that Babalakin could not be docked until the determination of his pending application challenging the charges and the court jurisdiction.

    He noted that if his client entered the dock, the essence of his application would be defeated.

    Justice Lawal-Akapo ruled in favour of Babalakin and adjourned the matter till January 20, 2014 to hear all defendants’ application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter.

  • Babalakin’s case assigned to new judge

    Babalakin’s case assigned to new judge

    The trial of the Chairman, Bi-Courtney Nigeria Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin, before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, could not go on as scheduled on Wednesday owing to the transfer of the trial judge.

    The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo has been moved from the court’s criminal division to the commercial division.

    The Nation gathered that Babalakin’s case file has been forwarded to a new judge, Justice Lawal Akapo.

    It is however not clear whether the matter, which is partly heard by Justice Onigbanjo will start “de novo” before the new judge.

    At last hearing, Justice Onigbanjo had adjourned ruling on the “no case submission” filed by Dr. Babalakin and four other defendants.

    The EFCC had arraigned Babalakin and other defendants for alleged conspiracy to commit felony, corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action and retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct to the tune of N4.7 billion.

    Babalakin was arraigned alongside Alex Okoh and three companies: Stabilini Vision Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited in January on a 27-count criminal charge.

     

  • Babalakin, Okoh want court to quash ‘fraud’ charges

    Babalakin, Okoh want court to quash ‘fraud’ charges

    The Chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin and his co-defendants on Wednesday asked a Lagos High Court, Ikeja to quash the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The defendants made the request in separate applications filed by their counsel before the court presided by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.

    Chief Babalakin is standing trial for allegedly transferring N4.7 billion on behalf of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.

    He is being prosecuted alongside Alex Okoh and their companies – Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited.

    They are facing a 27- count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of a criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

    At the resumed trial of the matter, the defendants told the court that the EFCC had no valid fiat to prosecute them before a state high court.

    Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the counsel to Babalakin told the court that the EFCC had no power to institute criminal proceedings at a state high court unless it had a valid fiat duly issued to them by the state’s attorney-general.

    Fagbemi pointed out that Babalakin and co-defendants were charged to court under a fiat issued on May 12, 2004 under the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003 and Criminal Procedure Laws of Lagos State 2003.

    “The fiat given in 2004 does not qualify as a fiat any longer because both laws under which it was made have been repealed,” Fagbemi said.

    He cited a ruling delivered on April 29 this year by Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson of a Lagos State High Court, Igbosere in a case involving FRN and Olayinka Sanni.

    He argued that the judge in the ruling held that the said 2004 fiat was no longer valid as a result of the repealed laws and the case was dismissed.

    Okoh’s counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), also urged the court to quash the charges against the defendants on similar grounds.

    “Since the fiat has been nullified, the defendants have the right to insist that they cannot be prosecuted with it and I urge the court to quash the charges against them,” he posited.

  • Court okays Babalakin’s co-defendant for foreign treatment

    Mr. Alex Okoh, the co-defendant in the suit brought against the chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin, was on Tuesday granted leave by a Lagos High Court, Ikeja to travel to the United Kingdom for medical check-up for undisclosed ailment.

    Okoh is facing trial alongside Babalakin, for allegedly transferring N4.7 billion on behalf of former Delta State Governor,James Ibori, to some banks.

    They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside their companies – Stabilini Visioni Limited,Bi-Courtney Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo in his ruling on an application filed by Okoh’s counsel, Mr. Olaniran Obele, ordered the EFCC to release his travelling documents to enable him go for the medical trip.

    Onigbanjo also directed the EFCC to allow Okoh to keep the medical appointment with the United Kingdom hospital between March 6 and 19.

    Okoh was however ordered by the judge to return the documents to the custody of the EFCC within 48 hours of his arrival in Nigeria.

    Obele had informed the court that his client, Okoh once travelled to the UK from December 30, 2012 and January 7 for the same purpose prior to his arraignment.

    He assured the court that the defence would file a further affidavit and attach all the necessary evidence including the medical report, and serve same on the prosecution.

    EFCC counsel, Mrs. Taiwo Ogunleye, did not object to the application, but advised the court to be wary of allowing Okoh travel to the UK where she feared he may be arrested.

    “The case that led to the arraignment of the second defendant came from the UK.

    “He may be arrested in the United Kingdom and that may take away my Lord’s jurisdiction of the matter,” she said.

    Justice Onigbanjo has however adjourned the matter to March 27 for hearing of all pending applications.

     

  • Court rejects preferential treatment for Babalakin

    Court rejects preferential treatment for Babalakin

    An Ikeja High Court, Lagos, on Monday rejected the request by the embattled Bi- Courtney Chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin to be allowed to sit in the bar or adjacent the dock as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on January 17 arraigned Babalakin and four others, before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, for allegedly conspiring and laundering N4.7 billion for the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

    Standing trial on a 27 count charge with Babalakin are one Alex Okoh; construction giants, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited, and Renix Nigeria Limited.

    Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had told the court that the defendants between May and December 2006 conspired to commit felony to wit: corruptly confering benefit on account of public action contrary to Section 98A (1) (a) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C17, Laws of Lagos State 2003.

    At the resumed hearing on Monday, Babalakin, who was granted bail on self recognition, prayed the court to allow him sit outside the dock since he is an inner member of the bar.

    Lead counsel to the defendants, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who sought the relief prior to the commencement of the case, cited Section 210 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    He argued that Babalakin, as a SAN, “a lawyer of repute”, and under the law, as an accused may be allowed to “sit adjacent to the dock.”

    His submission was however countered by Jacobs, who insisted that the court must be careful, especially because the action will amount to an injustice against the second defendant, Okoh.

    Jacobs said, “We have to be careful, justice must be seen to have been done, not on the grounds of status of the defendant. If that application is granted, what about the other defendant, who is a banker.

    “The inner bar or the outer bar cannot be adjacent to the dock. That section only applies to when there is no dock. In construing the law, what is most important is justice.”

    In his ruling on the preferential treatment to Babalakin, Onigbanjo declined the request and insisted that he could only allow the defendant to be seated inside the dock.

    “Section 210 of the ACJ only applies to a witness on summons. It does not apply to this situation. The defendants have taken their plea. They are not here on summons,” said Onigbanjo.

    Monday’s proceedings were scheduled for hearing on three applications filed by the defendants, each of them represented by a team of defence lawyers.