Absence of a former manager in defunct Oceanic Bank plc, Mr UdusegbeOmoefe Eric, who is standing trial before Justice AdemolaAdeniyi of the Federal High Court, on Monday stalled the commencement of pre-trial proceedings before the court.
Omoefe Eric was arraigned on June 7, 2013, alongside former Director of Pensions Accounts in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr SaniTeidiShuaibu, on a 22-count criminal charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, and breach of public trust and obtaining by false pretence, using nine companies to siphon pension funds amounting to over N5billion.
After counsels had announced appearances, Justice Adeniyi inquired the whereabouts of Omoefe Eric (2nd accused person), who was visibly absent in the courtroom, his counsel AdewaleAdegoke, said he was not aware and that his client did not tell him anything.
“My Lord, I cannot confirm why he was not in court this morning, and he has never sent anybody to me to explain his reason of being absent in court”, Adegoke told the court.
However, when Justice Adeniyi demanded explanation from prison officials, one James Ibrahim, who introduced himself as Senior Prisons Assistant Kuje, told the court that Omoefe Eric could not attend the sitting on medical grounds.
“My Lord, he was not healthy this morning, he collapsed yesterday in the bathroom”, the Prison official said.
