A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday adjourned until June 19 for the hearing of a motion in a ₦32 billion fraud case against lawyer Victor Ukutt and Whoba Ogo, who is reportedly at large.
Justice Lewis Allagoa, adjourned the case to enable defence counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) to file additional authorities in his motion.
The Federal Government filed a charge marked: FHC/L/138C/2025, containing eight counts against the defendants for alleged conspiracy, conversion, obtaining by false pretences, forgery, fraud, and money laundering.
The defendants are accused of conspiring between 2011 and 2023 to fraudulently convert approximately ₦32 billion from the account of Woobs Resources Limited.
The government claimed that the funds were unlawfully acquired through theft and fraud, which violates sections of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The court is yet to take the pleas of the defendants.
At Thursday’s proceedings, the court held that in view of the plethora of legal authorities and arguments surrounding the issue of taking pleas, it would be more appropriate to first hear the prosecution’s motion.
Falana, however,objected to the court’s decision and argued that same was not the business of the day and urged the court to first hear the defence’s preliminary objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
He argued that the court is “dominus litis”—the master of its own proceedings—and must assert control over how the case was being conducted.
The court, however, pointed out that following plethora of authorities and arguments surrounding the issue of taking pleas, it is better to hear the prosecution’s motion first.
He, however, urged the court to consolidate both motions and hear same together.
In response, the court pointed out the danger in the position been canvassed, and maintained that it was neater to first hear the prosecution’s motion.
Following the decision, Falana then asked for an adjournement to enable him file further authorities in support of his motion.
The court, consequently, adjourned the case until June 19, by 12 noon for hearing .
The prosecution filed an eight-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, obtaining by false pretenses, forgery, and money laundering.
The defendants filed preliminary objections under Section 305(1)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and Sections 6(a), (b), and 295 of the Constitution.
They are asking the court to dismiss the charge for lack of jurisdiction and abuse of process.
They also seek a stay of proceedings pending resolution of a share ownership dispute over Woobs Resources Ltd, pending at the Court of Appeal.
They argued that the criminal charge stemmed from a corporate dispute arising from a Joint Venture Agreement between the fourth suspect and a nominal complainant, one Mr James Onyemenam.(NAN