Chinwo had claimed that the 345,000 dollars in royalties that were owed to her were misappropriated by her previous manager.
The arrest warrant for Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the former manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo, is still in effect, according to a Federal High Court ruling in Lagos.
This was said by Justice Alexander Owoeye when the case’s proceedings resumed on Monday.
According to records presented to the court, Chinwo claimed that the defendant had embezzled $345,00, which she believed was her royalties.
He was charged with three counts of money laundering and illegal diversion of funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, the EFCC’s attorney, informed the court during a prior session that the prosecution could not serve the charge on the defendant because he had rendered himself inaccessible.
The court then granted the EFCC’s application and issued an arrest warrant for the defendant.
Monday Ubani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, represented the defendant at the court’s most recent session on January 24 and attempted to get the arrest order revoked.
However, the EFCC reminded the judge that the warrant was issued because the defendant was avoiding being served with the accusation.
Afterward, the EFCC lawyer asked the court for permission to serve the defendant’s charge on his attorney.
After the court gave its approval, Buhari-Bala used his attorney, Ubani, to serve Onyedikachukwu with the charge.
After that, the court adjourned so the defendant could be arraigned.
On Monday, when the case was called, Rotimi Oyedepo, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, represented the EFCC, while Ubani once more announced his appearance on behalf of the defendant.
Ubani then told the court that although the defense had a notice of preliminary objection contesting the accusation, the case should have been for the defendant’s arraignment.
“Where is the defendant?” The judge then questioned the attorney.
Ubani said to the court that the defendant called and stated he had a horrible accident this morning. The defendant will be available at the next postponed date, the attorney promised the court.
The judge refused to consider Ubani’s motion to move and discuss his objection until the defendant showed up in court.
Justice Owoeye ruled that because the defendant’s plea had not been accepted, the court had not taken on jurisdiction over the case.
The prosecution’s Oyedepo characterized the defense’s approach as peculiar.
He asked the court not to hear the defense and cited several judicial authorities in addition to § 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The defendant’s three separate absences from a criminal trial, according to Oyedepo, “is a show of shame and outright disrespect of this court.”
The prosecutor told the judge that the defendant was spotted on court property just after the court adjourned on the most recent date, allowing for media interviews. He said that a defendant acting in such a manner is a disgrace and a total disgrace to the court.
Oyedepo also informed the court that if the defendant was indisposed as his attorney had claimed, this should be proven by affidavit.
Oyedepo requested that the court issue a bench warrant to force the defendant to appear, stating that this is necessary to preserve the court’s integrity.
In response, Ubani argued against the bench warrant request. At the next postponed date, he committed to personally presenting the defendant.
In a brief decision, the judge determined that, according to his records, a previous bench warrant that the court had issued still stands since it had not been revoked.
As a result, the court decided that the defendant must show up for his arraignment on the next postponed date.
The court postponed the case to March 6 for the defendant’s arraignment based on the consent of the attorneys.
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