Daily Times property: Again, Anosikes’ trial fails

By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, OAMEN AREGUAMEN &KEHINDE OLASANMI

IKEJA-Efforts to arraign Fidelis Anosike, his brother, Noel Anosike, the two directors of Folio Communications Ltd, owners of the Daily Times newspapers, before an Ikeja High Court, was, again, Wednesday, frustrated with their application, asking the court to quash the criminal against them.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, Anosike’s counsel, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, told the court that the Anosike brothers cannot be docked for allegedly stealing of property worth N1.7 billion belonging to The Daily Times of Nigeria Plc.

Trial judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru, had on July 21, issued a bench warrant for the arrests of the Anosikes, after they failed to appear in court to face a fresh 40-count charge of stealing against them.

At the resumed hearing of the case, yesterday, they asked the court to set aside their planned arraignment, pending their application, asking the court to quash the charge against them. They also asked the court to set aside the execution of the bench warrant against them.

Agbakoba argued that the defence had filed three applications, which had been served on the prosecution.

The Anosikes argued that the prosecution represented by counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, had no power to initiate any criminal charges against them before the state high court.