Dana Air Managing Director, Hathiramani Jacky Ranesh is in trouble as the Federal Government is now set to arraign him come October 13, 2021 in a Federal High Court, Abuja over fraud allegation.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu revealed the date after counsel to the defendant, Ade Adedeji (SAN), told the court that the absence of his client in court was to the knowledgement of the prosecution.
According to reports, the arraignment of Ramesh and two others in suit number CR/101/21 was in the cause list for Wednesday June 30th, 2021 proceeding, where the Dana Air boss is the first defendant in the suit.
However, other defendants in the matter were in the court but Ramesh was absent.
Meanwhile, when the matter was called, counsel to the 1st defendant, Adedeji, said he was in court to represent Ramesh after they were served with the notice of arraignment.
He said; “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 officers in the temple of justice, we felt we are under obligation to accept 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 to appear before this honourable court.”
However, Wilson Michelangelo, Counsel to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
Justice Egwuatu then fixed October 13 for the arraignment of the defendants.
