{"id":979,"date":"2013-03-26T02:36:31","date_gmt":"2013-03-26T02:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/lagos-speaker-asks-court-to-strike-out-criminal-charge-against-him\/"},"modified":"2013-03-26T02:36:31","modified_gmt":"2013-03-26T02:36:31","slug":"lagos-speaker-asks-court-to-strike-out-criminal-charge-against-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/lagos-speaker-asks-court-to-strike-out-criminal-charge-against-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Lagos Speaker asks court to strike out criminal charge against him"},"content":{"rendered":"
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THE Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Monday urged a Federal High Court, Lagos, to strike out a suit against him and his personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, in a case of money laundering brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).<\/p>\n

Counsel to Ikuforiji, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who made the submissions before Justice Okechukwu Okeke at the resumed hearing of the case following a letter by the prosecutor, Mr. Godwin Obla, also informed the court of Ikuforiji\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n

Oyetibo told the court that the prosecution had treated the case with much levity since its commencement in 2012. According to him, several adjournments granted by the court in the case had been at the instance of the prosecution who has exhibited visible reluctance in the trial.<\/p>\n

He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the suit for lack of diligent prosecution. After listening to his submissions, Justice Okeke said he would adjourn the matter for overriding public interest, but would, however, order accelerated hearing of the case.<\/p>\n

He, therefore, adjourned the case to April 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 for continuation of trial. The accused persons were arraigned by the EFCC on March 1, 2012 on a 20-count charge of money laundering. The prosecutor had told the court that the accused conspired between April 2010 and July 2011 to commit the alleged offences.<\/p>\n

Obla had alleged that the two accused conspired to commit an illegal act of accepting cash payments amounting to N273,303,780 million from the Lagos House of Assembly without going through a financial institution.<\/p>\n

He also alleged that Ikuforiji used his position to misappropriate about N500 million of the House\u2019s funds, stating that the offences contravened Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.<\/p>\n

Justice Okeke had granted Ikuforiji bail on self-recognition, while his personal assistant was admitted to bail with the Clerk of the House as surety.<\/p>\n

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