Money Laundering: EFCC Closes Case Against Ex-Lagos Speaker

EFCC Operative

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed March 24 for the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to open his defence in an alleged ₦338.8 million money laundering trial.
The EFCC had closed its case against the defendants after the testimony of its second and final witness, Adewale Taiwo Olatunji

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed March 24 for the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to open his defence in an alleged ₦338.8 million money laundering trial.

Justice Mohammed Liman set the date on Wednesday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) closed its case.

Former Lagos Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji

Counsel to the former Speaker, Mr Dele Adesina, SAN, had asked the court for a short date to either open his defence or in the alternative to file a no-case submission.

The judge, however granted his request.

Ikuforiji is standing trial alongside his former Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, on a 54-count charge bordering on the alleged offences.

They pleaded not guilty before Justice Mohammed Liman last December 11 and were allowed to continue on a ₦500 million bail granted to them in 2012 when they were first arraigned.

The EFCC had closed its case against the defendants after the testimony of its second and final witness, Adewale Taiwo Olatunji.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Ekene Ihenacho, the witness, Olatunji, described himself as a retiree and former clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly (HoA).

Olatunji, 70, identified the former speaker and his personal assistant in the dock.

He recalled receiving two letters from the EFCC; the first concerned the agency’s intention to investigate the HoA’s financial dealings. The second was an invitation to him to appear before the Commission in relation to the investigation.