Justice Okechukwu Okeke granted the adjournment, following a letter from the prosecution counsel, Mr Godwin Obla, which stated that he would be absent from court, due to an important state function.
In acceding to his request for adjournment, Okeke slated Nov. 20 and Nov. 21, for continuation of trial.
You will recall that the accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 1, on a 20-count charge, bordering on money laundering.
Also, the prosecution had opened its case on Oct. 24 by calling its first witness, Mr Adebayo Adeniyi, an investigating officer of the EFCC.
The prosecution tendered 19 documents before the court, representing statements from various members of the house, confirming allegations of misappropriation.
The statements were admitted by the court as exhibits.
It is also recalled that during their arraignment, Obla had told the court that the accused conspired between April 2010 and July 2011, to commit the offences.
He alleged that the duo conspired to commit an illegal act of accepting cash payments amounting to N273,303,780 million from the LAHA without going through a financial institution.
Obla also alleged that Ikuforiji used his position to misappropriate about N500 million of LAHA’s funds.
He told the court that the offences contravened Section 18(a) of the money laundering (prohibition) Act 2011.
However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, Okeke had granted Ikuforiji bail on self-recognition, while his personal assistant was admitted to bail with the Clerk of the LAHA, standing as surety.
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