'NEPA' Stalls EFCC's Trial Of Wale Babalakin For Laundering N4.7billion.(PHOTOS)

Posted: Mar, 14 2014, 8:03AM

Wale Babalakin arriving court

By Saharareporters, New York

The trial Wale Babalakin (SAN) for his alleged role in laundering of N4.7 billion on behalf of convicted former Delta State governor, James Onanefe Ibori, has been stalled again.
Babalakin’s trial, which had suffered delays over time was today adjourned as the Lagos high court where the trial was scheduled to commence claimed it has technical difficulties turning on the electricity in the courtroom.
The court sitting which was scheduled for 9.00am had to be  moved to 11.00am as the court as there was an electricity blackout in the court. Although there was power supply at other blocks in premises of the court, the block where the trial of Babalakin was to hold had no power supply throughout the duration of the delay.
The court judge, Justice Lawal Akapo, therefore, adjourned again after waiting till 11 AM without restoration of electricity.
During the last court appearance of Mr.. Babalakin on February 17th, 2014, his trial was adjourned at the behest of the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Rotimi Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs complained that a domestic injury a week earlier would make it impossible for him to attend to the proceedings.
It is noteworthy that, since his arraignment  last year, Mr. Babalakin had employed a series of delay tactics to frustrate his trial.
For several weeks, he was holed up at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Idi Araba claiming to be on treatment.