JUSTICE Okechukwu Okeke of a Federal High Court, in Lagos, on Thursday, dismissed a motion filed by the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, seeking to quash the corruption charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Okeke, in a ruling on the motion, averred that the case had nothing to do with either the state house of assembly or the government, as argued by counsel for Ikuforiji, Tayo Oyetibo.

The judge, however, upheld the submission of the silk with regards to the fact that the motion to quash the charge was primarily based on a challenge to the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to adjudicate on the case against the accused under Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011.

The motion was subsequently dismissed for lacking in merit by the judge, while October 24 was fixed as the date to commence trial.

In his reaction to the ruling, the speaker in a statement signed by one of his counsel, Tunde Akinrimisi, said he was ready to face trial.

“On account of the ruling of His lordship today, the speaker’s legal team are ready for trial and verily believe that the speaker, Honourable Ikuforiji has a very good defence to the charge proffered against him and would be cleared of all allegations against him and discharged and

acquitted.

“The speaker’s motion to quash the charges is novel and raises a significant and very important constitutional question which not only bothers on the interpretation and scope of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 but also touches on the independence of the various arms of government,” the statement read.

The EFCC was prosecuting Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Oyebode Alade Atoyebi, before the judge on a 20-count charge on money

laundering offences.

Comments (1)

Show/hide comments

Anti Money Laundering
written by Arun, August 26, 2012

we should put necessary control and checks to make this whole system more stringent and transparent.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment