Absence of Defence Counsel Stalls Trial of Nadabo Energy Boss Over Alleged N1.4bn Oil Subsidy Fraud

TRIAL of Abubakar Ali Peters and his company, Nadabo Energy Limited, slated to continue on Tuesday at Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, over an alleged N1.4bn oil fraud, could not hold due to absence of the defence counsel.

Peters and his company is being prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a 21-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, diversion of Federal Government funds and forgery.

Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was in court to continue with his testimony as the second prosecution witness, in the trial which began in October 2015.

The defendant told the Court he could not reach his counsel on phone.

He said: “My Lord, my lawyer is flying in from Kaduna to Lagos for the case, and must have been airborne.”

Prosecuting counsel, S.K. Atteh, however, called the attention of the Court to the fact that the case had suffered several adjournments at the instance of the defence. He noted that, “the Chairman came all the way from Abuja leaving his enormous responsibilities to continue with his examination-in-chief.”

The case was briefly stood down to allow time for the lawyer to be present in court.

However, when the matter was later called, Peters informed the Court that he was still unable to reach his lawyer on the phone.

He said, “I called the principal and he said he would get back to me. But he is yet to do so.”

Subsequently, Justice Ogunsanya adjourned to September 22, 2021 for continuation of the trial.