Former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, has been dismissed by the Federal High Court for lack of diligent prosecution.

Seriously, this is no news to any Nigerian, our system is faulty, almost on daily basis huge amount of stolen  money and the accused is not punished….my question on this particular news is  why then the shame and humiliation on Mr. Akingbola and his family if all along his lawyers  knew he was innocent?

This took place on Monday 3rd April 2012, Mr Akingbola was standing trial on a 26-count amended charge of financial impropriety and alleged stealing of N36.4 billion preferred against him by the Federal Government and his case was dismissed for lack of diligent prosecution.

Vanguard News reports that “The court also ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohamemd Adoke, SAN, to disband the team of the five SANs prosecuting the case for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Justice Archibong said he would forward the court’s ruling to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, LPPC, to sanction the senior lawyers.”

Trial judge, Justice Charles Archibong described the prosecution team as “a drain to the public purse”.  Archibong said the prosecution team or any part of it shall not be given further audience in this court in relation to the charges against the accused either before the presiding judge or any other judge of the Federal High Court.

He added that the prosecution team has been dismissive of Akingbola’s right to a “speedy trial which in reality should be the credible procedure.”

“I, therefore, dismiss the charges amended or otherwise for this incompetent and abusive prosecuting team,” he said.

Hmmm!