Justice C. O. Oba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the arrest of the former Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Professor Ladi Aisha Hamalai.
Justice Oba gave the order for her failure to appear in the corruption case preferred against her by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
The ICPC counsel had told the court that this is the fourth time Hamalai failed to respond to the invitation of the commission to appear in the case, having been properly served.
The commission in the suit with charge number, FCT/HC/CR/312/23, ICPC is accusing Prof. Hamalai of using her office to confer a corrupt advantage upon herself by requesting N12 million to rent a guest house for her office and using the amount to purchase a property for herself in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja.
The commission is accused of also requesting another N29 million for the furnishing of the building as a government guest house.
ICPC prosecutor, Michael Adesola, said the former DG was served the arraignment notice but was surprised she was not in court.
Her counsel, Olayemi Afolayan, told the court that her client was sick, hence the absence.
Justice Oba, however, ruled that having failed to appear in court, the ICPC should effect the arrest of the former DG and produce her in court at the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned until September 9, 2024.
