Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Ikeja High Court yesterday mandated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to be responsible for footing the medical bills of accused persons in its custody, especially those detained in the prisons.
Justice Oyewole’s directives was consequent to the arguments that ensued between the prosecution and the defence teams over the discharge of an accused, one Charles Okore, who was recently operated upon in a private hospital in Lagos.
The absence of the accused, who was charged alongside Chief Fred Ajudua for allegedly defrauded a German-businessman, Remy Hendrick Cima, of about N281 million on a fictitious contract, stalled proceeding yesterday.
The court was expected to commence full scale trial yesterday after Ajudua initiated moves to resume his trial at the high court, Ikeja judicial division, by withdrawing his appeal before Appeal Court, Lagos and his two applications for stay of proceedings before trial judge, Justice Oyewole.
Yesterday, Ajudua was brought to the court by the prison authorities, but the court was informed that the second accused was hospitalised, hence his absence for trial.
Messrs, Olalekan Ojo and O. Orji who represented Ajudua and Okore respectively had earlier informed the court that they cannot conducted the trial without the second accused person, since the mater is not for mention but taken of evidence of the complainant.
According to Mr. Ojo, though he sympathised with the state for the production of their witness (the German) in court, but insisted it would be abnormal for the court to conduct trial behind an accused, who is supposed to be in court so as to listen to allegations levelled against him.
He argued that there were occasions, when the court may dispense with the personal appearance of an accused, but under the present circumstance, the accused person needs to be in court, especially when he has received treatment, waiting to be discharged from the hospital.
Responding, Mr. Seidu Atte who represented the prosecution, signified his intention to go on with the trial, provided the counsel to the two accused persons were in court.
He admitted that the second accused person (Okore) was absent in court due to non-settlement of his hospital bills, though signified on behalf of the state to settle the bills soon.
Delivering his short ruling, Justice Oyewole directed that “the welfare of the accused is to be handled by the state, he is in the custody of the state, the state should take care of the bills.” He ruled.
