The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to suspend hearing in a case of alleged land fraud brought against the Chief Executive Officer of Globacom Nigeria Limited, Mr. Michael Adenuga.
The commission said it did not wish to pursue the case during the long vacation of the court, Councel for the EFCC, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, told Justice Okon Abang on Monday.
In the absence of the consent of the prosecution and the defence, the vacation judge, Abang, subsequently ruled that the case was suspended till after vacation.
The EFCC had charged Adenuga with fraudulent conversion of parcels of land measuring about 22.687 hectares located at the Lekki Pennisula.
The land was said to be valued at N5bn.The EFCC instituted the case before a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja pursuant to a petition it received from one Engineer S.k. Oyeniran.
The commission also filed another case numbered FHC/L/CS/487/14 before a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an order of the court to restrain all activities on the land pending the determination of the suit before the Lagos State High court.
The case was before Justice Mohammed Yunusa before the court went on its annual vacation.When the case was called on Monday, counsel for Adenuga, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo, informed the vacation judge that the appearance of the parties was pursuant to the order of Yunusa that the case be heard during vacation owing to its urgency.
The EFCC counsel however objected, saying he did not give his consent for the case to be heard during vacation.In a short ruling Abang said the case would not be entertained during vacation.
The judge said, “A part-heard matter can only be heard during the court’s vacation when all the parties involved give their consent.
“There is nothing in the record of the court to show that he (EFCC counsel) gave his consent that this matter be heard. The court cannot even speculate.”
