Abuja (Nigeria): The arraignment of Azania Omo-Agege, Interim President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, was discussed again at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
Omo-Agege and his co-defendants’ arraignment is scheduled for March 20. The trial was stalled before the former trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, because neither of the defendants was present in court.
However, Omo-Agege’s lawyer, Prof. J.E.O. Abugu, SAN, was in court.
Omo-Agege and Prescilla Efemana Sidali of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security were billed to take their plea on an alleged fraud of N40,300,000.
However, when the matter was called on Monday before the new trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, no lawyer was in court.
The suspects were not in court.
Justice Umar adjourned the matter until Nov. 26 for Omo-Agege and Efemana to enter their pleas.
The I-G, in the five-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/75/2025, had named Omo-Agege and Efemana as the 1st and 2nd defendants, while Daniel Omughelli was listed as being at large.
In the charge dated Feb. 24 but filed on Feb. 25, Omo-Agege, Efemana of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Daniel Omughelli (now at large) were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence sometime in 2022.
They were accused of criminal breach of trust, obtaining money under false pretences, and issuance of a dud cheque, contrary to and punishable under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Act.
