15th December, 2014
Henry Ojelu
For failing to appear in court for arraignment in a N1.2 bribe allegation, A Lagos High Court judge, Lateef Lawal-Akapo today issued a bench warrant against the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Dr Olufemi Omotoso.
The doctor and his alleged accomplice Ayo Owoka, who is a lawyer were charged to court for allegedly conspiring to offer a N1.2 million bribe to EFCC officers on 27 February 2014.
They are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, offering of gratification to a public officer and giving false information to a public officer.
When the matter came up today, Justice Lawal-Akapo expressed dissatisfaction that the arraignment could not take place due to his absence to Omotoso.
He, therefore ordered operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) to arrest Omotoso and produce him in court on 26 January 2015 for the arraignment.
EFCC counsel, Mr Babatunde Sonoiki, told the court that an EFCC team led by Mr Usman Zakari, was investigating a petition written against Omotoso for alleged fraud at the FMC.
He said the money was offered through Owoka to the team to compromise their investigation.
Sonoiki also accused Omotoso of destroying his extra-judicial statement to the EFCC in order to evade prosecution.
He said their offences contravened Section 64 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011 and Section 39 (2) of the EFCC Act of 2004.