Deji Abiola Wants Theft Charge Quashed

Second son of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Deji Abiola, today asked an Ikeja High Court in Lagos to quash the N35.5 million charge of stealing preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Deji Abiola was arraigned on 30 June before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo by the EFCC.

He was charged to court on a one-count charge of stealing N35.5 million belonging to a Lagos-based printer, Mr Jide Jose, under the pretext of helping him to import printing machines from Switzerland.

When the matter came up for hearing today, his lawyer, Mr P.O. Jimoh-Lasisi told the court that the defence had filed an application which was served on the prosecution on 16 September.

The application dated 13 September had asked the court to quash the one-count charge preferred against Abiola and an order asking the court to discharge him.

Jimoh-Lasisi argued that the EFCC had no right to prosecute the accused because the charge of stealing brought under Section 390 (8) (b) and (9) of the Criminal Code Law Cap C17 Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State 2003, was a state offence.

“The information is frivolous, vexatious and aimed at harassing and intimidating the accused and constitutes an abuse of court process,” the defence lawyer stated in the application.

The Senior Advocate further argued that the court therefore had no jurisdiction to try Abiola by virtue of the charges preferred against him.

Jimoh-Lasisi also asked the court to grant Abiola who is already on bail permission to travel abroad for medical reasons before the next adjournment.

EFCC prosecutor, Mr Omeiza Adebola admitted that the prosecution has been served the application and asked for a short adjournment.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till 10 November, 2011.