Oyo-Ita’s N471m alleged fraud trial stalled

Head of Service of the Federation Winifred Oyo-Ita
Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita

The trial of a former head of the federation’s civil service Winifred Oyo-Ita on fraud charges could not continue on Wednesday following the absence of the judge Justice Taiwo Taiwo.

However, Mrs Oyo-Ita and other defendants in the case and their lawyers were present.

The case has been adjourned till January 28.

Oyo-Ita was arraigned before Justice Taiwo on March 20, 2020, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 18-count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of about N471, 633, 291.

Her special assistant, Ubong Effiok, and a businessman, Garba Umar, are among the defendants.

Other defendants are Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Ltd, Garba Umar Slopes International Ltd., Gooddeal Investments Ltd, U & U Global Services Ltd, which is linked to Effiok and Prince Mega Logistics Limited.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.