A fresh application for stay of proceedings in the trial of former Chairman of the Federal House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Subsidy Probe, Farouk Lawan and Secretary, Boniface Emenalo was on Wednesday dismissed by an Abuja High Court.
The court rejected a similar application by the accused — Lawan and Emenalo, who are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly receiving $620,000 from businessman Femi Otedola to influence the report of the committee in favour of his company, Zenon Oil and Gas Limited — in a ruling in July, in favour of the commencement of trial on Wednesday.
Counsel to the prosecution, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) told the court that he was served with an appeal notice by the accused persons on 8th August; and that just on Wednesday morning in court, he was served with an application filed and dated 15th July at the Court of Appeal by the accused, praying for an order of stay of further proceedings in this charge. He argued that since the court earlier ruling, proceedings could only be adjourned, not stayed.
Lead defence lawyer, Ricky Tarfa (SAN) confirmed that the defence filed an application dated 15th July before the appellate court, urging the court to stay proceedings due to the pending appeal while awaiting the outcome of the application of the accused before the Court of Appeal.
