EFCC Appeals Against Ikuforiji’s Discharge
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday appealed against a Federal High Court judgement which discharged the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji of money laundering charges.
Ikuforiji and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, were arraigned on a 56-count charge including the laundering of N273 million belonging to the Assembly. They however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when charged to court on March 1, 2012 and June 24, 2013, with different judges presiding over the case.
On September 26, 2014, Justice Ibrahim Buba finally discharged the accused duo, after upholding a no case submission filed on their behalf by their counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Mr Tunde Akinrinmisi.
The EFCC, represented by Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) has now filed a notice of appeal before the Appellate court raising nine grounds. In the notice, the commission requested that the decision of the High court be nullified on grounds or error and perversion. The appellant also wants the Appellate court to order a fresh trial before a different judge.
According to Obla, the trial judge erred in law when he held that the provision of Section 1 of the Money Laundering Act 2004 and 2011 only applied to natural persons and corporate bodies.
“The lower court erred in law when it held and concluded that the case of the prosecution witnesses supported the innocence of the respondents. The learned trial judge erred in law when he upheld the no case submission of the defendants and thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice,” Obla said.
No date has been fixed to hear the appeal.
