The Court of Appeal sitting in Igbosere, Lagos Island, has reserved judgement in the suit instituted by former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Ladoja, against the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).The court reserved judgment after taking arguments from lawyers in the matter.
The former governor had approached the appellate court to seek an order to quash the 4.7 billion Naira corruption charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2007.
Rasheed Ladoja had argued that the proof of evidence placed before the trial court by the EFCC had no nexus with the charge against him, and also did not establish any prima facie case against him. The former governor consequently prayed the appellate court to hold that the anti-graft agency had no power, jurisdiction or authority to file any criminal charge against him.
The anti-graft agency had arraigned the former governor before Justice Ramat Mohammed, who was then sitting at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on November 2008, alongside his former aide, Mr Waheed Akanbi, on an amended 10-count charge of laundering 4.7 billion Naira belonging to the Oyo State government.
The duo were alleged to have conspired to convert properties and resources derived from an alleged illegal act, with the intention of concealing the illicit origin of the properties and resources.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that the embattled former governor used about 42 million Naira to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep, and remitted about 600,000.00 pounds to one Bimpe Ladoja in London. But the duo pleaded not guilty to the charge and have been on bail since.
Channels Television’s judiciary Correspondent, Shola Soyele, reports that the court is expected to communicate the date for delivery of judgment on the case to the lawyers as soon as it is ready.
