A Lagos High Court presided over by Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, yesterday issued a bench warrant against the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Dr Olufemi Omotoso.

 

The judge issued the warrant following the refusal of Omotoso to appear before it to stand trial for alleged bribery. Justice Lawal-Akapo, who observed that Omotoso’s alleged co-conspirator, Ayo Owoka, a lawyer, was in court, expressed dissatisfaction that the arraignment could not take place due to his absence.

 

The judge therefore, ordered operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arrest Omotoso and produce him in court on January 26, 2015, for arraignment. The accused were charged to court for allegedly conspiring to offer N1.2 million as bribe to EFCC officials on February 27, 2014.

 

They are facing a fivecount charge bordering on conspiracy, offering of gratification to a public officer and giving false information to a public officer. Counsel to EFCC, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, told the court that EFCC team led by one Mr Usman Zakari, investigated a petition written against Omotoso for alleged fraud at the FMC.

 

 

He said the money was offered through one Owoka to the team to compromise their investigation. Sonoiki also accused Omotoso of destroying his extra-judicial statement to the EFCC in order to evade prosecution.

 

He said their offences contravened Section 64 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011 and Section 39 (2) of the EFCC Act of 2004.

 

by MATTHEW IRINOYE