By Michael Effiong
Popular businesswoman and philanthropist, Princess Toyin Kolade can now breath a sigh of relief as the N36.2billion fraud case that has been hanging over her head has been dismissed.
Princess Kolade, who holds the respected title of Iyalaje Oodua has consistently stated that the case was frivolous and she had no idea what it was about.
Justice Peter Lifu who presided over the court threw out the charge, sequel to a withdrawal application made by the prosecutor, Dr. Pius Akutah, a Chief Counsel in AGF’s Office.
Dr. Akutah said he applied to withdraw the charge, as result of a letter from the nominal complainant, Access Bank Plc.
Counsel to Iyalaje Kolade, Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN) commended the conduct of the prosecution as being a professional one by withdrawing the charge after objection has been raised.
Also, Mr. Dada, A. Awosika (SAN), counsel to other defendants in the matter equally commended the prosecution on the withdrawal, but urged the court to dismiss the charge and acquit and discharge the defendants because the charge was predicted upon a businessman transaction.
However justice Lifu in his bench ruling said that since the case was not heard on its merit but merely withdrawn before trial commenced, the appropriate order to make is to strike it out.
Justice Lifu, consequently, struck the charge and discharged all the defendants.
AGF had in a charge marked FHC/L/407c/2019, dragged Princess Kolade alongside four indian nationals, namely: Prem Garg, Devashish Garg, Bhagwan Simgh Rawat and Mukul Tyagi and two Britons, Marcus Wade and Andrew Fairie, said to be at large, before the court on alleged fraud charges..
Charged alongside the above-mentioned individuals are four companies: Metal Africa Steel Products Limited, Wilben Trade Limited, Fisolak Global Resources Limited and Kannu Aditya India Limited.
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