Court Frees Lagos Speaker, Ikuforiji, On 56-count Conspiracy, Money Laundering Charge

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji of a 56-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Ibrahim Buba in a ruling on a 'no case submission' filed by the Speaker and his co-accused, one Oyebode Atoyebi held that the commission failed to prove any of the ingredients of the crime against both men.

The court also described the case of the EFCC against both men as full of mere speculation which could not take the place of facts.

Justice Buba held that the two witnesses called by the EFCC did more harm than good to the case of the prosecution, as they failed to prove and collaborate the charges and allegations against the accused persons.

The Lagos Speaker, Hon Ikuforiji and his aide; Oyebode Atoyebi were charged to court by the EFCC, in December 2011.

The EFCC had alleged that the defendants had sometime between April 2010 and July 2011 conspired and accepted various cash payments amounting to N503 million from the House without going through a financial institution.

CHANNELSTV