Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Money laundering: Absence of witness stalls Lagos speaker’s trial


THE money laundering suit instituted against the speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, was stalled on Tuesday, due to the absence of prosecution witness.
At the resumed hearing of the matter before Justice Okechukwu Okeke, the representative of the EFCC counsel, Mr Godwin Obla, presented another letter of excuse to the court, informing it of his absence and asking for an adjournment.
The correspondence was delivered to the court by Olusola Folarin, a partner in his law firm, stating that Obla was still engaged in an important official assignment in Abuja.
The defence counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo, did not object to the adjournment and equally informed the court that he had received a phone call from the prosecutor, who had craved his indulgence to be absent.
He, therefore, aligned with the request for adjournment made on behalf of the prosecution.
Justice Okeke granted the request for adjournment and fixed December 17 for continuation of trial.
The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC on  a 20-count charge of alleged money laundering.
and, at the last adjourned date, the prosecution had opened its case by calling its first witness, an investigating officer of the EFCC, Adebayo Adeniyi, to testify before the court.

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