High Court to Resume Trial of Ex-Gov. Ladoja

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned until March 31, the trial of a former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, charged with N4.7 billion fraud.
Ladoja is charged alongside one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi.

They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge bordering on fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case, which was earlier slated for continuation of trial, could not proceed on Monday, as judges were said to be attending a conference.

The court’s registrar consequently, fixed a new trial date as March 31.
NAN recalls that EFCC had in November 2008 arraigned the accused on 10 counts of conspiring to convert properties and resources derived from an alleged illegal act, with the intention of concealing their illicit origin.

The EFCC also alleged that Ladoja used N42 million out of the proceeds to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep, and remitted about 600,000 pounds to one Bimpe Ladoja in London.
Ladoja and Akanbi, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.