Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

JUSTICE Olayinka Faaji of the Federal High Court, Ibadan  division who is one the judges hearing the suit filed against some staff of Central Bank of Nigeria and others over alleged fraud of about N8billion has said it is the judicial system in the country that allows a counsel to openly accuse a judge of bias without any attendant consequence.

The judge said the country’s judicial system was unlike that of the United Kingdom where  a counsel cannot accuse a judge of bias without facing the consequences.

He said this while giving ruling on two motions filed by defence counsel in the trial of the bankers.

Olalekan Ojo, counsel to the second and third accused persons had alleged that some of the portions of the ruling on bail applications filed by his clients had pronounced them guilty before the determination of the case. He had taken exception to the use of  “deeply involved” and that their offences were “mind-boggling” in the ruling.

While delivering ruling on the two motions which were hinged on stay of proceedings and disqualification of the judge , he  said he could not grant the second prayer because it was for the Appeal Court to decide.

If he did, he held that it would be tantamount to removing rug off the feet  of the Court of Appeal justices that are to hear the allegation of bias which the counsel to accused persons had raised in his ruling.

The accused bankers that were arraigned include Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Toogun Kayode Philips,(CBN staff), Isaq Akano (a.k.a Isiaka), Ayodele Festus Adeyemi, Oyebamiji Akeem, Ayodeji Alatise and Ajiwe Sunday Adegoke.