The trial of a businessman, Stanley Offor, resumed on Wednesday before Justice Ismail Ijelu of a Lagos High Court with a sharp rebuke directed at the defendant’s former counsel, Nnana Ogbo, for what the court described as a “frivolous and unethical” petition aimed at frustrating the judicial process.
Justice Ijelu, while addressing the courtroom, revealed that Ogbo had written a petition to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, accusing him of bias and requesting the reassignment of the case.
The judge expressed dismay over the move and condemned it as an abuse of the court process designed to delay justice.
“This petition is not only unprofessional but also an unacceptable tactic to intimidate the court and derail the trial,” Justice Ijelu said.
“The court cannot allow such conduct to take root in the administration of justice.”
However, after the defendant, Stanley Offor, was granted audience to speak, he disowned the petition and declared he was no longer interested in the services of Nnana Ogbo. Offor told the court he had appointed a new counsel, Chinedu Nwosu, to represent him going forward.
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Following this development, Justice Ijelu dismissed the petition and held that the grounds upon which it was filed no longer stood, since the defendant had lawfully disengaged the former lawyer.
The prosecuting counsel, Dr. Emmanuel Jackson, also strongly criticised the petition, describing it as unethical and a deliberate attempt to manipulate the court.
“It is highly inappropriate for a lawyer to file such a petition in the middle of trial without notifying the court or seeking proper redress through legal channels,” Dr. Jackson said, urging the court to treat it as a calculated disruption.
Similarly, the new defence counsel, Chinedu Nwosu, expressed surprise at the development, distancing himself from the petition.
He affirmed that he was not informed of the action and called for the court to disregard it as a bad-faith tactic.
Nwosu then filed an application seeking the recall of prosecution witnesses for further cross-examination. But the prosecution objected, arguing that the request runs contrary to the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
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Justice Ijelu adjourned the case to September 29, 2025, for ruling on the application and continuation of trial.
Stanley Offor is facing charges of forgery, criminal trespass, and illegal occupation of property.
The prosecution alleges that Offor, alongside accomplices still at large, forged documents purportedly issued by the late Mrs. Comfort Eruchalu in order to fraudulently sublease her property.
He is also accused of illegally occupying a He has been charged not only with the illegal occupation of a property owned by Cool Comfort Africa Ltd., situated behind Atiku Abubakar Hall 3 at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos but also with persisting in remaining there despite receiving formal notices. property owned by Cool Comfort Africa Ltd., located behind Atiku Abubakar Hall 3 at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, and refusing to vacate despite formal notices.
The offences allegedly committed in 2016 violate Sections 2(2) and 4(1) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016; Section 516(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2024; and Section 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The court is expected to continue proceedings in September, with the judge warning against further attempts to delay the matter.
