FG to arraign Dana Air MD, others over alleged fraud

The Managing Director of Dana Air Hathiramani Ramesh is to appear in court on October 13 to face charges of fraud in a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date after counsel to the defendant Ade Adedeji told the court that the absence of his client in court was to the knowledge of the prosecution.

Mr Ramesh and two others will be prosecuted by the Federal Government in suit number CR/101/21.

Although other defendants in the matter were in court on Wednesday, Ramesh was absent.

However, when the matter was called, counsel to the 1st defendant, Adedeji, said he was in court to represent Ramesh, the first defendant, after they were served with the notice of arraignment.

The lawyer said his client was not in the country.

According to him, counsel to the prosecution also knew that Ramesh would not be able to take his plea as a high court in Lagos State where the defendant was also facing a trial in another matter had adjourned owing to the trip.

The senior lawyer stated that if his office had known that the matter was slated for Wednesday, he would have politely declined to accept the service.

“The charge before this honourable court is a serious matter. We came in from Lagos just to come and explain to your lordship the circumstances that informed our acceptance of service without knowing that the date is coming so soon.

“We didn’t know before we accepted it. We have an option not to accept this but as officer in the temple of justice, we felt we are under obligation to accept on his (Ramesh’s) behalf.

“But to the knowledge of counsel to the prosecution, the principal defendant is not in the country which was made known to the prosecution.

“It is on the basis of these circumstances that we shall be appealing to your lordship for an adjournment my lord to enable the defendant appear before this honourable court,” he said.