Alleged Theft-- AGF Takes Over Prosecution of Cross Country Boss

                  A  Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Wednesday heard that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hands off the prosecution of Cross Country Transport Limited boss, Bube Okorodudu.

Okorodudu is standing trial before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, alongside his firms, Cross Country and Car Link Limited, for allegedly stealing N82.8 million by fraudulently selling 17 ‎units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Limited and one Adeloye Olukemi.
‎At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, a counsel from the office of the AGF, D.E. Kaswe, told the court that the EFCC was no longer prosecuting the matter.
‎He said the AGF took over the matter from the EFCC on September 8, while the court was on vacation‎, adding that the case was taken over because of a sister criminal case before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
‎Praying the court for an adjournment to enable the AGF office collect the original file it requested from the EFCC, Kaswe said it would enable them examine the files and reach conclusion.
On his part, the defence counsel, Taiwo Taiwo, said Okorodudu had voluntarily submitted himself to the police as directed by the court on July 1.
“The first defendant (Okorodudu) was in their custody and came to court on July 14 but the court could not sit due to the strike by judiciary workers.
“He was thereafter granted administrative bail by the police and the reason he is not here today is because I was not aware that the matter will be coming up today,” Taiwo stated.
After hearing the submissions of both counsel, Justice Lawal-Akapo observed that the practice directive by the National Judicial Council was that judges should give priority to high profile criminal cases.
He said:”I am not in any way impressed with the explanation given by the prosecution counsel that the AGF office is still trying to take over the original case file from the EFCC since September 8.
“Counsel from both sides should assist the court in dealing speedily with this matter.”
He held that the bench warrant issued against Okorodudu on July 1 was still in force.
Lawal-Akapo ordered the police to arrest and produce him in court at the next adjournment fixed for December 2.