Court Of Appeal Discharged Former Governor Of All Charges

Alao-Akala was the governor of Oyo State between 2007 and 2011, a court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State has discharged a former Governor of the state, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala of charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court also set aside all charges against the former Governor on Thursday.

Our correspondent gathered that Alao-Akala has been facing 11 count charges bordering on alleged fraud of N11.5bn since 2011.

He ruled the state as governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ex-governor, alongside his former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hosea Agboola and a businessman, Femi Babalola were been prosecuted by the EFCC at an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

The defendants are facing 11-count charges bothering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences, amongst others.

Counsel for the defendants, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, who argued the case, was represented by Rashidi Isamotu.

Isamotu was in court to receive the judgement.

Justice Muniru Owolabi at the trial court ordered the defendant to enter defence on counts 1,2 and 5 of the charges after striking out the 8 out of the 11 count charge.

In a unanimous judgement by the three judges of the appeal court, they contended that the trial court erred to have ordered the Appellant to enter defence on an offence not known to law as prosecution/defence failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant/Appellant.