By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed July 15 for the arraignment of Azania Omo-Agege, the Interim President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), over allegations of fraud.

Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after counsel to the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Maryam Kalejaiye, sought an adjournment to enable the investigating team produce him in court.

Upon resumed hearing in the matter, neither Omo-Agege nor his lawyer were in court.

Kalejaiye informed the court that though the matter was scheduled for Omo-Agege and his co-defendant, Sidali Efemana, to take their plea, she said the police investigating team was yet to get in touch with the suspects.

The lawyer, therefore, sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution do the needful and Justice Umar adjourned the matter until July 15 for the defendants to take their plea.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sept. 29, 2025, the arraignment could not proceed due to the accused absence in court.

The arraignment was also stalled on March 20, 2025, before the former trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, because neither of the accused were in court.

However, Omo-Agege’s lawyer, Prof. J.E.O. Abugu, SAN, was in court.

Omo-Agege and Efemana of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security were billed to take their plea on alleged fraud to the tune of over N40 million.

The I-G, in the five-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/ 75/2025, had named Omo-Agege and Efemana as 1st and 2nd defendants while Daniel Omughelli was listed as being at large.

In the charge dated Feb. 24, 2025, but filed Feb. 25, 2025, Omo-Agege, Efemana of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Daniel Omughelli (now at large) sometime in 2022 were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence.

They were accused of criminal breach of trust, obtaining money under false pretense and issuance of dude cheque contrary to and punishable under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Act. (NAN)