The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed October 21, 2026 for the commencement of trial in the alleged ₦100 million fraud case involving three former employees of Brila Broadcasting Services Limited.
The defendants are Babafemi Raji, popularly known as Topmost Striker, Akakan Victor Mkpong Sam, and Blessing Sunday Ekerete.
The trial, which was earlier scheduled to commence on July 13, 2026, was adjourned until October 21 for definite hearing.
The case followed an earlier ruling in which the court vacated the criminal summons issued against Raji, but ordered that he be tried in absentia following his continued failure to appear for arraignment.
At a previous sitting, only the two co-defendants appeared in court, while Raji remained absent.
His counsel had informed the court that he travelled to the United Kingdom before the charge was filed due to deteriorating health and attached medical reports from hospitals in the UK in support of the claim.
The prosecution opposed the application, arguing that it had credible information contradicting the defendant’s assertions and urged the court to allow the trial to proceed in his absence.
In a bench ruling, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa granted the application to set aside the criminal summons but held that Raji would be tried in absentia.
In the charge, marked: FHC/L/530/2025, filed by the Inspector-General of Police, the three defendants are facing counts bordering on conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering over an alleged ₦100 million fraud.
Raji is also facing a separate count alleging that he used social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), to bully, threaten, and harass the founder of Brila FM, Dr. Larry Izamoje, in a manner alleged to have placed him in fear of death, violence, or bodily harm.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravenes Section 24(2)(3)(a) and (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
