By Olawale Lamina
A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama Abuja has threatened to issue a bench warrant against a legal practitioner, Barrister Ferdinand Baba Isa for his failure to appear in court over a N550 million fraud case preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
A statement on Tuesday by ICPC acting spokesperson, Demola Bakare, confirmed that Barrister Baba Isa, who is the second defendant in the N550m corruption case, was due to be arraigned in the court on the 10th May, 2024 but failed to show up when the case was mentioned for hearing.
Justice James Omotosho who presided over the matter noted that the failure of the defendant to appear before the Court was a demonstration of total “lack of respect for the law,” warning that a repeat of such would attract sanctions.
The defendant, barrister Baba Isa had earlier been arrested alongside his client, Mrs. Roseline Uche Egbuha for allegedly conniving to illegally lift restrictions on an account being investigated by ICPC.
The sum of N550 million discovered in a Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB account belonging to Mrs. Egbuha had been placed under a ‘Post No Debit’ (PND) order pending investigations.
Following its investigation, the ICPC discovered that the full sum was transferred to an account named ‘FBI legal’ owned by Mr. Ferdinand Baba Isa on the 4th of June, 2020 with the lawyer claiming that an out of court settlement with the bank in question had legalised and facilitated the transaction.
During the proceeding, counsel to the second defendant, Barrister N.I Usman failed in his argument justify his client’s absence with any cogent reason.
Counsel to the ICPC, Barrister Kemi Odogun consequently moved for an adjournment due to the absence of the defendant.
After listening to the argument of both counsels, Justice Omotosho threatened to issue a bench warrant against the defendant, regardless of his profession and standing in the society.
The matter was therefore adjourned till the 11th of June, 2024 where all parties involved are expected to make an appearance.
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