BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN-Justice Moshood Abbass hearing the case of the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and his former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Senator Hosea Agboola and a contractor, Mr. Femi Babalola being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on alleged misappropriation of funds totaling N25 billion has alleged attempt by some unnamed people to influence his decision.

He therefore warned all parties in the case and their agents to avoid trying to influence him in whatever manner.

“I want to reinstate the fact that I am warning all the parties involved on this matter, I mean anybody who might derive any interest in the matter, not to try to influence my decisions in this case. I will order the immediate arrest of anybody who makes any attempt to influence me one way or the other. I have my name and integrity to protect. Enough is enough. When I say enough is enough, I know what I’m saying. Those who are concerned know themselves.”

Akala and his aides are facing an 11-count charge to which they had pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

At the sitting of the court yesterday, hearing began on the bail application by Mamman Osuman (SAN), counsel to the accused persons, who told the court that his prayer for bail was informed by the ill-health of his clients.

He said, his client, Akala was already due for check up and that his health required constant medical attention from his physician adding that Section 19 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other fraud Related Offences and Section 39(4b) of the ICPC Act accords the court legal capacity to admit the accused persons to bail.

He told the court that Alao-Akala is suffering from ill health which requires constant medical attention from his Medical Doctor, and brought a medical certificated marked exhibit AK1 to back his claim.

In his objection to the bail application with counter-affidavits and written address, which were deposed to by one Olayinka Bolanle, counsel to the EFCC, Chief Godwin Obla noted that the value of the medical report presented by the embattled former governor was questionable.

He added that the report was written last Monday when the proceeding was being anticipated stressing that the state of health of Babalola, the third accused person was not enough for the court to exercise its discretion in their favour.

In the counter-affidavits, he argued that the accused persons should be refused the bail because “they are being investigated in relation to other Code of Conduct offences and that there is likelihood that they frustrate the investigations if they are admitted to bail.”

He said Alao-Akala and others had not given enough materials that could make them entitled to their bail applications, so, the court should dismiss the applications.

The arguments lasted till 4.00p.m, and the trial Judge adjourned the case to 12 noon today (Thursday) for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the accused persons remain in the custody of the State Security Services.

Like the first day of the arraignment of the accused persons, their supporters filled the court to the brim with hundreds of others standing outside the court premises