The corruption case against Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Alade Atoyebi took another turn on Wednesday as the trial court sitting Lagos adjourned the case indefinitely.
The case had lingered with the judge lamenting the delay and urging the speaker and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for speedy hearing and judgement.
EFCC’s counsel in the case, Godwin Obla had withdrawn from it some days ago citing personal reasons.
On Wednesday, the new counsel engaged by the EFCC, David Idenu, Tayo Oyetibo and two other senior lawyers, Abiodun Omidare and Tunde Akinrimisi announced their appearance for the accused speaker and his aide.
But almost immediately, the trial Judge, Okechukwu Okeke lamented that Obla had blackmailed the court with his constant demand for adjournment in the case. He therefore adjourned case indefinitely.
Speaker Ikuforiji was alleged to have misappropriated about N500m belonging to the House, an offence punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
Alongside his assistant, Ikuforiji allegedly conspired to accept cash payments amounting to N273.3m from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution, an offence alleged to have been committed between April 2010 and July 2011.
