Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have stormed the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to place on surveillance the Chairman of Bi-Courtney, Mr. Wale Babalakin, who is suspected to be feigning illness to avoid trial.
Mr. Babalakin is hiding in one of the amenity wards in the hospital. Along with four others, he is wanted to stand trial on a 27-count charge of helping convict James Ibori to launder over N3.4billion.
But while the other four suspects are ready, Babalakin stalled the EFCC’s arraignment last week, his lawyer saying he had suddenly taken ill.
It was subsequently learned that the businessman was in another court trying to obtain an injunction that would prevent the EFCC from being able to put him in the dock.
One day after those tumultuous events in two courtrooms, Babalakin checked himself into LUTH, ostensibly for “treatment” for the previously undisclosed illness.
The EFCC however suspected that Babalakin was embarking on further “pranks” by relocating to the hospital, and a team of its operatives arrived LUTH on Tuesday night to stop Babalakin from doing anything detrimental to the trial.
A source said: “There has been a big drama in LUTH in the last 24 hours. Some operatives have been stationed at the hospital to watch over the businessman.
“I think the EFCC is suspecting that he might escape and they do not want allow any slip on their part.”
Babalakin is due in court next week Wednesday, December 12.
Courtesy Sahara Reporters