TRACKING___Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed April 2, 2020 as the date for the arraignment of the Senator representing Anambra South at the National Assembly, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, over alleged N135 billion fraud.
The absence of Ubah for the second time in court Thursday again stalled his arraignment over the alleged offence. The Federal Government has slammed a four-count charge on Ubah, alongside a firm, Capital Oil and Gas Ltd.
On resumption of Thursday’s proceedings, lawyer representing Federal Government, Kunle Adegoke, drew the court’s attention to an ex-parte motion seeking an order for the service of the charge sheet on Ubah through his lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).
The lawyer told the judge that the prosecution has exercised all due diligence in attempting to serve Ubah with the charge but all to no avail. He said it has become impracticable to effect personal service on Ubah.
In the ex-parte motion, the Federal Government is seeking the following reliefs:
“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the complainant/applicant to effect service of the charge sheet through the bailiff of this Honourable Court on the 1st defendant/respondent by serving same on him through his legal representative, to wit, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) of Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL).
“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the applicant to apply for summons to be issued to the 1st defendant/respondent compelling his appearance before this Honourable Court on the 13th day of February, 2020 and the said summons to be served by affixing same on a conspicuous part of his place of work, to wit, Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, 1, Capital Oil Close, Westminster Close, Ibru Jetty Complex, Apapa, Lagos or in any other manner as the court may deem fit”.
After listening to Adegoke’s arguments on the motion, Justice Oweibo granted the ex-parte motion and ordered that a copy of the charge should be served on Ubah through his lawyer. He subsequently adjourned the matter to April 2, 2020 for arraignment.
