A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till Thursday, June 5th, the trial of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji.
Hon Ikuforiji is s
tanding trial alongside his aide; Oyebode Atoyebi, on an amended 56-count charge of money laundering. They had pleaded not guilty to the offence and the trial had commenced with the testimony of the first prosecution witnes.
Channels Television’s judiciary correspondent, Shola Soyele reports that the trial was scheduled to continue today (Wednesday) but was stalled owing to the absence of the prosecutor, Mr Godwin Obla (SAN).
When the case was called in court, the Counsel representing the accused person, Mr Tunde Akirinmisi informed the court of a letter from the prosecutor, intimating him of his absence from court.
Following the information by the defence counsel, Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered the court registrar to read out the letter in the open court.
In his letter, the prosecutor informed the court that his absence was due to a matter he was also handling before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
He, therefore, craved the indulgence of the court that the case against the Lagos Speaker be adjourned to June 5 and June 6, to enable him attend and prosecute it.
The defence counsel did not object to the request for adjournment.
Justice Buba in a short ruling, accordingly, adjourned the case to June 5 and June 6 for continuation of trial. He added that the accused persons should continue to enjoy the bail already granted them by the court.
The Lagos State Speaker and his aide were alleged to have between April 2010 and July 2011 committed an illegal act of accepting cash payments of over N273 million from the Assembly, without going through a financial institution.
Hon Ikuforiji was also alleged to have used his position to misappropriate about N500 million of the Assembly’s fund.
The offences are said to contravene the provisions of Section 18(a) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act 2011.