Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, has requested the Ikeja Special Offences Court to discontinue the trial of Azubuike Ishiekwene and Olalekan Abdul, who are currently on trial for fraud allegations of N1.35 billion. The case was initiated in 2020 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and alleged that the defendants conspired with Adeyinka Adewole and Morakinyo Bolanle to obtain N350 million and N1 billion from Wema Bank under false pretences. The defendants, former Managing Director of Cleanserve, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail. The trial commenced in earnest in January 2020, and the defendants filed no-case submissions, arguing that the prosecution failed to show any prima facie evidence linking them to the alleged offense. Justice Mojisola Dada, the trial judge, upheld the EFCC's argument and directed the defendants to open their defense.