Ikeja, Lagos — Proceedings in the criminal case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) chairman, Fouad Oki, and Eko-Akete Engineering & Construction Company Ltd were on Monday stalled at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja following the alleged evasion of arraignment by the defendants.
At the hearing before Justice Olubukola Okunnuga, EFCC counsel, Mohammed Abbas, informed the court that although the defendants had been duly served with the charge, they had continued to evade arraignment.
Abbas told the court that the prosecution was not ready to proceed due to the absence of the defendants, urging the court to grant an adjournment to enable the prosecution prepare and file the necessary applications to ensure their appearance.
He specifically prayed the court for time to regularise processes that would compel the defendants to submit themselves for arraignment.
Justice Okunnuga, after listening to the submission of the EFCC counsel, adjourned the matter till April 14, 2026, for further proceedings.
The defendants are standing trial, filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the Criminal Division of the High Court of Lagos State.
According to the charge, Fouad Oki and Eko-Akete Engineering & Construction Company Ltd are accused of stealing and abuse of office, contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In the first count, the defendants were alleged to have, sometime between July 29 and August 17, 2023, dishonestly converted the sum of ₦33,105,000 belonging to the Lagos State Football Association to their personal use, an offence contrary to Section 280(2) and punishable under Section 287 of the law.
The second count alleged that Oki, while serving as Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, abused his office by authorising the conversion of the same sum for personal use, an act said to be prejudicial to the rights of the association, contrary to Section 73(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge was signed by Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa, SAN, on behalf of the EFCC.
The case is expected to come up next on April 14, when the prosecution is anticipated to take further steps to secure the defendants’ arraignment.
