A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned the trial of the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his personal assistant, Mr. Oyebode Atoyebi, to afford the new defence counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), to study the case file.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had slammed 54 counts of money laundering charges on Ikuforiji and Atoyebi
The charges comprise allegations that the accused persons recieved over N600m from the Lagos State House of Assembly between April 2010 and July 2011 without passing through a financial institution.
Justice Ibrahim Buba had on December 2, 2013 adjourned till Tuesday for the first prosecution witness, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, to continue his testimony. But the matter was adjourned following a request by Olanipekun for time to study the file.
Olanipekun took over from Mr. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).
Olanipekun told Justice Buba on Tuesday that he had just been briefed about the matter and as such he would need time to study the file, part of which he said was just served on the defence on Monday.
Olanipekun said, “I’m faced with a motion of documents some of which I learnt were served on my colleague yesterday and were passed to me this morning (Tuesday).
“I have no alternative than to soberly request an adjournment so that I will study the file and review it and see how far I can assist the course of justice.”
The prosecuting counsel, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), did not oppose the application for adjournment.
The judge then fixed the matter for March 17 and 18 for continuation of hearing.
EFCC’s first witness, Adebayo, had commenced his testimony on November 21.
