Former Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan and the secretary of the committee, Boniface Emenalo, on Wednesday failed to delay the commencement of their trial. They are both accused of receiving $620,000 bribe from businessman, Femi Otedola, to influence the report of the committee in favour of Zenon Oil and Gas Limited which belongs to Otedola.
In her ruling, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, denied a stay of proceedings because there is no valid application before the court, indicating that they had filed an appeal at the appellate court challenging the jurisdiction of the court .
At a previous court sitting, counsel to the accused persons, Mr Mike Ozekhome, told the court that there is a pending appeal before the supreme court challenging the decision of the appeal court on jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter. But the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, who opposed the argument, told the court that at the last sitting, the court gave an affirmative order stating that it would proceed with the matter irrespective of the appeal.
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