The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, vacated the bench warrant issued for the arrest of a former Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Demola Banu.

Banu is being tried alongside the immediate past governor of the state, Abdulfattah Ahmed, on 11 counts bordering on alleged N10bn fraud.

The court had on February 23 issued a bench warrant against Banu for being absent from the court for his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

On the said date, only Ahmed was in court, arraigned, pleaded not guilty and was granted N50m bail by Justice Evelyn Anyadike.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, Banu was in court alongside his lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN).

Oyewole urged the judge to vacate the bench warrant against his client, saying he was not informed by the EFCC that the matter was coming up at the last date.

He said the EFCC misrepresented facts and urged the judge to vacate the arrest warrant.

“My Lord, my client, who is the second defendant in this case brought before the court by the EFCC, did not deliberately absent himself from the trial during the last date of hearing but the anti-graft agency did not invite him and inform him about the trial of the case before the court,” Oyewole said.

Justice Anyadike granted the prayers by lifting the bench warrant after which Banu was arraigned.

Banu pleaded pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following an application by his lawyer, the judge granted him N5m bail with two sureties in like sum.

The counsel also pleaded for an adjournment to enable him to file some documents that would aid the proper defence of his client.

Ahmed and his counsel, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), were also present in the court during the Monday proceedings.

Justice Anyadike later adjourned further hearing till June 25 and 26,2024.