The ongoing trial of a former Governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, over alleged N4.7 billion money laundering charge at a Federal High Court, Lagos was today stalled by the absence of a prosecution witness.
The prosecution witness is a Director in the service of Oyo State Government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Mr. Ladoja alongside a former State Commissioner for Finance, Waheed Akanbi.
The duo were arraigned on December 14, 2016 before the judge, Mohammed Idris, on an eight-count charge bordering on N4.7 billion money laundering.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.
However, at the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the EFCC Prosecutor, Oluwafemi Olabisi, apologised that he could not proceed because of the absence of his witness, a director in the service of Oyo State Government.
Mr. Olabisi told the court that the witness was attending a meeting with the World Bank in Lagos but had pleaded to be in court on tomorrow.
He urged the court to adjourn the case until March 20 and March 21 as the dates were already set down for the continuation of the trial.
Bolaji Onilenla and Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, counsel to the first and second defendants, did not object to the request for an adjournment, but urged the prosecuting counsel to ensure that his witnesses were in court on the agreed dates.
Mr. Idris adjourned the case until March 20 and March 21 for continuation of trial.