COURT CONDEMNS ‘UNETHICAL’ PETITION IN STANLEY OFFOR TRIAL, ADJOURNS CASE TO SEPTEMBER 29
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The trial of Stanley Offor resumed on Wednesday before Justice Ismail Ijelu at the Lagos High Court, with the judge delivering a stern condemnation of a petition filed by Offor’s former counsel, Nnana Ogbo, describing it as “frivolous and unethical.”
Justice Ijelu told the court that Ogbo had petitioned the Chief Judge of Lagos State, alleging bias on the part of the presiding judge and seeking a reassignment of the case. The judge decried the move as a deliberate ploy to derail justice.
“This petition is not only unprofessional but also an unacceptable tactic to intimidate the court and derail the trial,” Justice Ijelu said. “The court cannot allow such conduct to take root in the administration of justice.”
However, the defendant, Stanley Offor, swiftly disowned the petition when given the opportunity to address the court, stating that he had disengaged Ogbo’s services and appointed a new lawyer, Chinedu Nwosu.
Justice Ijelu subsequently dismissed the petition, ruling that the grounds on which it was filed no longer applied.
Prosecuting counsel, Dr. Emmanuel Jackson, also criticised the petition, calling it a “calculated disruption” and a breach of legal ethics. “It is highly inappropriate for a lawyer to file such a petition in the middle of a trial without informing the court,” he said.
New defence counsel, Chinedu Nwosu, distanced himself from the controversy and declared he had no knowledge of the petition prior to his appointment. He proceeded to file an application requesting the recall of prosecution witnesses for further cross-examination.
The prosecution objected, arguing that the request violated provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Justice Ijelu adjourned the matter to September 29, 2025, for ruling on the application and continuation of the trial.
Stanley Offor is standing trial on charges of forgery, criminal trespass, and illegal occupation of property. He is accused of conspiring with others to forge documents purportedly issued by the late Mrs. Comfort Eruchalu to fraudulently sublease her property.
Offor is also alleged to have unlawfully occupied a property belonging to Cool Comfort Africa Ltd., located behind Atiku Abubakar Hall 3 at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, despite being issued quit notices.
The charges contravene Sections 2(2) and 4(1) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016; Section 516(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2024; and Section 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Justice Ijelu warned against further attempts to delay the proceedings, emphasizing the court’s commitment to seeing the case through without unnecessary obstruction.
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