Court Orders Lawyer to Produce Fleeing Chinese Client for N1 Billion Fraud Case
Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered lawyer Charles Adeyoriju to produce his client, Mr. Su Donghai, in court on May 22, 2025, for arraignment on charges related to an alleged N1 billion fraud.
Su Donghai, a Chinese national, is charged alongside two Nigerians and two companies in a case marked FHC/L/695c/2024. The Nigerian defendants include Stanley Tochukwu Okafor (41) and Ogunade Oladele Oluwaseun (40), along with WNW Energy Technical Development Limited and HAOTI International Limited. The charges include conspiracy, forgery, obtaining by false pretense, and fraud.
The case was initially scheduled for arraignment, but Mr. Donghai, who is reportedly in China, failed to appear in court. Justice Aluko inquired about his whereabouts from his lawyer, Adeyoriju, who confirmed that his client was abroad but assured the court he would return for the next adjourned date.
The case was delayed several times due to the absence of the Chinese defendant. Despite Adeyoriju’s objections to the adjournment, Justice Aluko ruled that the delay was primarily caused by his client’s absence and rebuked Adeyoriju for his argument. The court also emphasized the need for expedient legal proceedings.
Prosecutor Barrister S. A. Ogalla responded by citing the Attorney General’s powers to oversee the case and the Police’s authority to prosecute, urging the court to either issue a bench warrant for Mr. Donghai or order his lawyer to produce him in court.
Justice Aluko, after considering the submissions, adjourned the case to May 22, 2025, and directed Adeyoriju to ensure Mr. Donghai’s presence in court for the arraignment.
