EFCC CASE AGAINST EX-LSFA CHAIRMAN FOUAD OKI STALLED OVER ALLEGED EVASION OF ARRAIGNMENT

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Proceedings in the criminal case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) chairman, Fouad Oki, and Eko-Akete Engineering & Construction Company Ltd were on Monday stalled at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja due to the absence of the defendants.

At the hearing before Justice Olubukola Okunnuga, counsel to the EFCC, Mohammed Abbas, told the court that the defendants had been duly served with the charge but had continued to evade arraignment.

Abbas said the prosecution was unable to proceed in the absence of the defendants and applied for an adjournment to enable the commission to regularise processes and file the necessary applications to compel their appearance in court.

He urged the court to grant time to take steps that would ensure the defendants submit themselves for arraignment.

After listening to the prosecution’s submission, Justice Okunnuga adjourned the matter until April 14, 2026, for further proceedings.

Fouad Oki and Eko-Akete Engineering & Construction Company Ltd are facing trial on a charge filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the Criminal Division of the High Court of Lagos State.

According to the charge, the defendants are accused of stealing and abuse of office, offences said to be contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The prosecution alleged that between July 29 and August 17, 2023, the defendants dishonestly converted the sum of ₦33,105,000 belonging to the Lagos State Football Association to their personal use, an offence contrary to Section 280(2) and punishable under Section 287 of the law.

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In a separate count, Oki was alleged to have abused his office as LSFA chairman by authorising the conversion of the funds for personal use, an act said to be prejudicial to the rights of the association and contrary to Section 73(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The charge was signed by Rotimi Oyedepo Iseoluwa, SAN, on behalf of the EFCC.

The case is expected to resume on April 14, 2026, when the prosecution is anticipated to take further steps to secure the defendants’ arraignment.