The trial in a suit filed by property developer Mr Olukayode Olusanya and his company, Oak Homes Limited, against a Nigerian-American engineer, Mr Anthony Ugbebor, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was on Monday stalled due to the absence of a technical crew needed to facilitate the first defendant’s virtual appearance.
At the resumed proceedings before Justice Akingbola George of the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square, the court was informed that the team responsible for setting up the Zoom connection was unavailable.
Counsel to the first defendant, Mr Nasiru Salau, reminded the court that it had earlier granted leave for his client to join the proceedings virtually.
He said all necessary payments for the virtual link had been made, and the Zoom details were received and forwarded to the defendant last Friday.
Salau explained that he contacted the court’s technical unit before the court began sitting and was informed that the technical team were on their way, adding that the same team was also scheduled to handle another virtual proceeding later that morning, between 10 am and 10:30 am, before the court.
He, therefore, requested a brief stand-down to allow time for the technical setup.
However, counsel to the claimants, Mr Adeleke Agboola (SAN), opposed the request, arguing that there was no certainty about when the technical team would arrive.
“I am objecting to the stand down. The first defendant has been attending proceedings virtually, and this court usually sits at 9 a.m., even when there is no power supply. If they are not ready today, I will be asking for costs,” Agboola said.
In response, Salau dismissed the objection, stating, “The objection of the SAN is a misconception.
“It is not our duty to set up the Zoom link; the court has always handled that. We made the payment last week, and the link was sent. I will not concede any cost”.
Justice George subsequently adjourned the case to November 25, 2025, for the defence to open its case.
The claimants, Olusanya and Oak Homes Limited, in suit number LD/4471LM/2023, are suing Ugbebor (first defendant) and the EFCC (second defendant) over an alleged ownership dispute of a property valued at N152m.
At the last hearing, Olusanya, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Oak Homes Limited, denied receiving a letter purportedly sent by the EFCC on September 13, 2023, inviting him to collect a bank draft of N102m from the Commission.
During cross-examination by EFCC counsel Mr E.S. Okongwu, Olusanya testified that he never received any letter or call from the EFCC regarding the draft.
“I did not receive any letter or call from the EFCC asking me to collect the bank draft,” he said.
He admitted, however, that he made a statement to the EFCC but claimed it was not voluntary.
“I only went to the EFCC with a payment plan because that was the condition they gave me for my release after being detained for three days,” he added.
Olusanya confirmed attending a meeting with the EFCC and other parties on August 28, 2023, where the Commission reportedly acknowledged that the dispute was civil in nature and advised all parties to seek an amicable resolution.
When asked if he had brought the N102m bank draft to the EFCC, he replied, “Yes, I did, but that money is no longer mine to take.”
EFCC counsel maintained that the Commission sent a letter to Olusanya on September 13, 2023, asking him to collect the draft, but the witness insisted he never received it.
