BENIN CITY: The prosecutor in the case of alleged money laundering, operating a financial institution without licence, and aiding the suicide of Lilian Omokhuale, daughter of the Chief Executive Officer of Uyi Technical Ltd, Omoruyi Oloton, on Monday informed the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City that he had complied with the court’s directive by publishing a public summons for the defendant, Jessica Iguodala Oghomwen.
P. O. Odion, the prosecutor, told the court that the summons relating to Suit No. FHC/5C/2024 had been published in the February 17, 2026 editions of The Nigerian Observer and Vanguard newspapers, as well as on the notice board of the Federal High Court, in line with the court’s order.
At the resumed hearing, Odion explained that the 30-day period granted for the defendant to appear in court had not yet elapsed.
He therefore sought an adjournment to allow him to file the appropriate application should the defendant fail to appear and take her plea within the stipulated period.
The prosecutor said he was relying on Section 80, Part 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which empowers a prosecutor to apply to the court for the attachment of a defendant’s property if the defendant is evasive or fails to obey a court summons.
He quoted the section as stating: “If a court has issued a summons or warrant and has reason to believe that the person has absconded or is concealing themselves to evade the service of the summons or execution of the warrant, the court may order the attachment of their property.”
Odion further noted that Section 81 of the ACJA authorises the court to order the attachment of any property, movable or immovable, belonging to such an evasive suspect.
Counsel to the defendant, Dele Igbinedion; counsel to Uyi Oloton, the nominal complainant, Olayinwola Afolabi, who led Idemudia Osifo, Chairman of the Benin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association; as well as Douglas Ogbankua, did not object to the request for adjournment.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to May 6, 2026.