A Lagos State High Court has reaffirmed its bench warrant for Onyedikachi, who is facing allegations of misappropriating royalties, following his repeated failure to appear in court.
According to TheCable, Justice Alexander Owoeye had issued the arrest warrant on January 16 at the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which accused Onyedikachi of diverting royalties without the consent of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo.
At the hearing on Monday, EFCC’s counsel, Bilikis Buhari, informed the court that despite efforts, the commission had been unable to serve the charges on Onyedikachi as he remained unreachable. However, his lawyer, Monday Ubani, accepted service on his behalf on January 24.
During proceedings, Ubani told the court that Onyedikachi had called him earlier in the day, claiming he was involved in a “terrible accident” and would be unable to attend the hearing.
However, the prosecuting counsel criticized the defendant’s continued absence.
“My lord, it is a show of shame and outright disrespect for this court, for the defendant to be absent on three different occasions in a criminal trial,” Buhari said.
The court declined to hear Onyedikachi’s counsel’s objections, ruling that the defendant must be physically present before such motions could be considered.
Justice Owoeye held that the arrest warrant remained valid, stating that Onyedikachi must appear at the next hearing, either voluntarily or through enforcement of the warrant.
The case has been adjourned to March 6, following an agreement between the prosecution and defense counsel.
