The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed December 11 for the re-arraignment of a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi.
The duo are being charged with an amended 54 counts of money laundering.
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Justice Mohammed Liman fixed the new date after defence counsel, Tunde Akinrinmisi, prayed for an adjournment to get his clients in court.
Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reluctantly agreed to the prayer, lamenting the time the trial has taken.
The Supreme Court had ruled in January 2018 that the case be re-assigned to another judge of the Federal High Court other than Justice Ibrahim Buba who had exonerated Ikuforiji of the charges in 2014.
Justice Buba had in a ruling in September 2014 held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to establish a prima facie case against Ikuforiji and Atoyebi and dismissed the 56 count-charge of laundering N673 million.
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In the amended charge, EFCC alleges that Ikuforiji and Atoyebi, between April 2010 and August 2011, conspired to “commit an illegal act, to wit, accepting various cash payments amounting to the sum of N673 million from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution.”
The alleged offence contravenes sections 18a of the Money Laundering Act 2011
