These, without any iota of doubt are the best of times for Fisolak Global Resources Limited boss, Princess Toyin Kola as a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday, March 11th, 2022 struck out the N32.6 billion charge preferred against her.
The presiding Judge, Peter Lifu thrown out the charge sequel to a withdrawal application made by the Attorney-General of the Federation AGF.
Counsel from the office of the AGF, Pius Akutah applied to withdraw the charge as a result of a letter from the nominal complainant, Access Bank Plc.
Counsel to Princess Toyin Kolade, Barrister Dele Adesina, SAN commended the conduct of the prosecution as being a professional one by withdrawing the charge after objection is been raised.
Counsel to other defendants, Dada Awosika, SAN also commended the prosecution on the withdrawal but he urged the court to dismiss the charge and acquit the defendants because the charge flows from a business transaction.
However, Justice Lifu in his ruling said that since the case was not heard on its merit but merely withdrawn before trial commenced, the appropriate order to make is to strike it out…. Accordingly the charge is hereby struck out and the defendants are hereby discharged.
For those who don’t know, Princess Toyin Kolade was charged alongside six others before the court by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) in a charge marked FHC/L/407c/2019, for allegedly obtaining the aforementioned sum by false pretense.
Others charged alongside the businesswoman are four Indian nationals, Prem Garg, Devashish Garg, Bhagwan Simgh Rawat and Mukul Tyagi, as well as two Britons, Marcus Wade and Andrew Fairie, said to be at large.
Also, four companies, namely Metal Africa Steel Products Limited, Wilben Trade Limited, Kannu Aditya India Limited, as well as the socialite’s business, Fisolak Global Resources Limited, were also charged before the court for the same offences.
However, the businesswoman has expressed joy over the judgement. She said; “I thank Almighty God for what He has done in my life throughout the period of the challenges and the court processes.”
She also expressed gratitude to her legal team which comprised of top legal luminaries; Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), Barr. Olapade Awowole and Barr. Bimpe Ajegbomogun Sanusi.