BY ABDULWAHAB   ABDULAH
LAGOS — Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday, issued a bench warrant for the production of the embattled chairman of Cross Country Motors, Chief Bube Okorodudu, over alleged involvement in the theft of N82.9 million.

The court’s order was sequel to an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he (Okorodudu) allegedly failed to turn up to answer to charges levelled against him by the prosecution.

The judge directed the Police to arrest and produce Okorodudu before the court on July 8 for his arraignment.

The transporter and his two companies, Cross Country Limited and Car Link Limited, were charged to court by the EFCC on an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, forgery and uttering.

They were accused of stealing the money which was the sales proceeds of 17 units of Volkswagen transporter buses belonging to AG Moeller Ltd between February 2008 and August 2009.

The anti-graft agency claimed the buses were fraudulently sold to GMT Nigeria Ltd, Multichoice Nigeria and Law Union and Rock/TFS Finance Ltd., and that Okorodudu allegedly forged a document to facilitate the alleged theft.

It contended that on several occasions, Okorodudu had failed to show up to take his plea on the charges filed against him.

To avoid his arraignment, the business man and his company had filed application and argued that the trial court lacks jurisdiction to sit over the case on the ground that the matter before the court border on business transaction between them and the complainant.

However, Justice Lawal-Akapo had fixed yesterday for the formal arraignment of Okorodudu and his company after it had on May 26 dismissed Okorodudu’s application to quash the charge on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and had ordered the defendants to appear in court on July 1 for their arraignment.

At the resumption of proceedings, the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, reminded the court of its order, noting that the absence of the defendants was a flagrant disobedience of the court’s order.

Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), who represented Okorodudu, explained his absence was as a result of an appeal filed against the ruling made by the court on May 26.

Counsel to Car Link and Cross Country, Chief Ladi Williams (SAN), also urged the court not to issue the warrant on the same grounds.

In his ruling, the judge held that no cogent reason was given for Okorodudu’s absence. Lawal-Akapo noted that there was evidence that Okorodudu was at the registry of the Ikeja High Court on Tuesday morning to sign an affidavit.

Lawal-Akapo said: “It is abundantly clear that he is taking the court for a ride. The law is not a respecter of any person. This matter is adjourned till July 8 and a bench warrant is hereby issued against the defendant.

“The defendant is to be arrested and produced before the court to take his plea.”