By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The trial of the embattled former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji, and his aide, Oyebode Alade Atoyebi, before Justice Mohammed Liman of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria over alleged money laundering of N673 million could not proceed on Wednesday as slated.
While the parties who were present in Court waited for their matter to be called, the registrar announced the adjournment of the case till September 30, 2020, saying that there was a directive from the Chief Judge of the court that new cases should not be open for trial because of the impending transfer of Judges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), had on December 11, 2019 re-arraigned Ikuforiji and Atoyebi before Justice Liman following the Supreme Court decision that the former Speaker be retried for money laundering.
The former Speaker and his aide were discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court in Lagos of 54 counts amended charge of laundering N673 million
However when the case was pursued to the Supreme Court on appeal by the EFCC, the apex court ordered for a retrial of the case by re-assigning the case to another judge of the Federal High Court.
In a 54-count amended charge of money laundering filed against Ikuforiji, and Atoyebi before the court it was alleged that between April 2010 and August 2011 they conspired together to commit illegal act, to wit, accepting various cash payments amounting to the sum of N673 million from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through financial institution, thereby committing an offence contrary to Sections 18a of the Money Laundering Act 2011.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty, and they are currently on bail earlier granted them by the court.
