N8bn Currency Scam: Bankers Go on Appeal, Accuse Judge of Bias

Dissatisfied with the June 19 ruling of Justice Olayinka Faji of Federal High Court two in Ibadan who denied bail to the majority of the bankers involved in the recirculation of mutilated naira notes meant for briquetting, some of the accused persons‎ who are at Agodi prisons have gone on appeal.

By their alleged offence, they were charged with committing economic crimes.

Counsel to the 2nd, 3rd and 5th accused persons; Barrister Olalekan Ojo told Justice Faji on Friday that he had filed an appeal against the ruling which denied his clients their right to freedom since the case was a bailable offence.

Not only that, Ojo said from the ruling, there appeared a likelihood that his clients might not get fair hearing from the court while alleging bias in the suit no. FHC/IB/34c/2015 involving two of his clients.

‎Ojo and Mrs. Olayinka Ojo are representing the 2nd and 3rd accused persons in FHC/IB/34c/2015, billed to commence on Friday.

‎ Ojo, who is the counsel to Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Toogun Kayode Phillips (2nd and 3rd accused persons), told news men a few days ago that an appeal would be filed on his clients’ behalf, adding that the judge's position gave the impression that the accused persons were guilty even before the commencement of their trial.

He said, “The ruling certainly was against our expectation. We knew it could go either way but no state governor and bank chiefs accused of economic crime was denied bail in the past. It is dangerous at this state to go into the substantive issues. There are pronouncements made by the judge that touched on this. This is why we are worried.”