Nigerian Supreme Court, Friday, gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a go-ahead to re-prosecute former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr. Erastus Akingbola over his alleged involvement in N5 billion fraud.
In April 2012, Akingbola’s trial was terminated by Justice Charles Archibong at the high court. His decision in the case later earned him a compulsory retirement from the bench.
Justice Archibong had in a judgement delivered on April 2, 2012 struck out the 26 counts contained in a charge numbered FHC/L/443C/2013 filed by EFCC against Akingbola on ground of lack of diligent prosecution.
But the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement by a five-man panel led by Justice Tanko Muhammad unanimously affirmed the February 20, 2015 judgement of the Court of Appeal in Lagos which had overturned the Federal High Court’s decision striking out the charge.
The five-man panel of the apex court ordered Akingbola to return to the Federal High Court in Lagos to re-face the charge.
Justice Sidi Bage, who read the lead judgment of the apex court, said Akingbola’s appeal challenging the Court of Appeal’s verdict lacked merit.