A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja today issued a bench warrant against the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Dr. Olufemi Omotoso, for failing to appear in court for arraignment in a N1.2 bribe case.

Omotoso and his alleged accomplice, Ayo Owoka, a lawyer, were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, offering of gratification and giving false information to a public officer.

The two allegedly conspired to offer a N1.2 million bribe to operatives of the Commission on February 27 this year.

“Owoka, 47, was arrested as he tried to bribe the officers and, on being questioned, confessed that the money was given to him by Omotoso to compromise the investigation into a case of contract inflation, abuse of office, stealing, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo,” says Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media & Publicity at EFCC.

When the matter came up today, Justice Lawal-Akapo expressed dissatisfaction that the arraignment could not take place due to his absence to Omotoso.

He therefore ordered operatives of the EFCC to arrest Omotoso and produce him in court on 26 January 2015 for the arraignment.

•Photo shows Ayo Owoka, who was charged alongside Omotoso by EFCC.