By Emma Ujah

LAGOS— The current Judicial recess may have stalled the arraignment of embattled former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

It was learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, was prepared to arraign him by yesterday, but the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice Dan Abutu who is expected to handle the case is said to be away, obviously on vacation like his colleagues.

There were however, indications that he may be arraigned on Thursday .
When contacted, the EFCCC  image maker said his organisation was ready to arraign the former bank boss whenever the judiciary is ready for him.

Akingbola is spending his sixth day in the EFCC detention, following his return to the country early last week.
Foreseeing that it would require to keep Mr. Akingbola in custody beyond the legally mandatory 48 -hour period, the anti-graft agency obtained a court order late last week to enable it keep him in detention for up to two weeks   

The Federal Government had early last month formally requested the British Government to extradite the embattled Mr Akingbola  to enable him answer questions pertaining to his roles in managing funds entrusted to the bank he managed while in Nigeria.

 This development was consequent upon a request made by the EFCC to the  Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN,   who forwarded an extradition request to the British Home Secretary, Home Office , United Kingdom.

The EFCC has slammed Mr Akingbola with a 28 count charge for offences of financial misappropriation, money laundering, financial malpractice, corrupt practices and other related offences at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The court also placed forfeiture order on his choice properties said to be scattered across Lagos, Dubai, UK, and Accra.

  In the letter of request, the AGF explained, “The request for the extradition is made pursuant to the Extradition Act (Designation of Part 2 Territories) Order 2003 (SI2003 No.3334) of the United Kingdom”. The purpose of the request the AGF explained is for the extradition to Nigeria of Mr Akingbola for him to stand trial for the offences for which he is charged.

 The request was supported with an affidavit deposed to by Ibeakaku Nkechi Rita, a deputy Superintendent of the EFCC and a certification signed by Ahmed T. Almakura, Senior State Counsel of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

 The AGF prayed the Home Secretary to grant the request in the interest of justice.

 The former bank boss was said to have escaped through the porous Nigerian borders on August almost a year ago when the CBN sledgehammer landed on Union Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, FinBank Plc, Afribank Plc, Managing Directors that were summarily dismissed and later charged to court by the anti-graft body.