A Lagos State High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a suspected internet fraudster who reportedly jumped bail and failed to appear before the court for the continuation of his trial. The presiding judge, visibly displeased with the defendant’s absence, granted the application filed by the prosecution to compel his immediate arrest and appearance in court.
The suspect, whose name was withheld due to ongoing investigations, is standing trial for multiple charges bordering on cybercrime, identity theft, and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents—offences brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC told the court that all efforts to reach the defendant since he was granted bail had proved abortive, leading investigators to believe that he may have fled the jurisdiction.
At the last sitting, the defendant’s legal counsel claimed not to know the whereabouts of his client and could not provide convincing justification for his absence. In response, the prosecution filed an oral motion urging the court to invoke Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which empowers the court to issue a bench warrant against an accused person who deliberately refuses to attend proceedings.
Justice [Name withheld for legal propriety] granted the motion, describing the defendant’s conduct as a clear attempt to frustrate the judicial process. The court warned that any attempts to evade justice will be met with the full weight of the law and directed law enforcement authorities to effect the arrest without delay.
Sources within the EFCC indicated that the suspect had previously entered a not-guilty plea to the charges and had been released on bail with stringent conditions. However, his disappearance shortly after signals what investigators describe as a “deliberate ploy to stall trial and escape accountability.”
The court has adjourned the matter pending the apprehension and production of the suspect in court.
The EFCC continues to urge members of the public with useful information on the suspect’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or the commission’s regional office.
As Nigeria intensifies its crackdown on cybercrime and digital fraud, the judiciary’s swift response in this case reflects a broader resolve to ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied, regardless of the tactics employed by defendants.
