Loyalists of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji were filled with despondency on Friday, after Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos adjourned ruling on the “No case submission” of the speaker at the last sitting.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had closed its case against Ikuforiji and Oyebode Atoyebi, his aide, in a 54-count (amended charge) of laundering over N600 million, prompting Ikuforiji’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, to file a no-case submission while Friday was fixed for the ruling.
However, when the case came up as adjourned, Buba said he could not deliver the ruling adding that he was fatigued and weighed down by a lot of work to be done. He then fixed 26th September as the new date since the court is soon to embark on a long vacation.
He had earlier fixed the ruling for a day within the vacation but this was opposed by the prosecution, Edward Okpe.
According to the judge, since the prosecution had refused that the ruling be delivered during vacation, “and considering the legality of doing so, this matter stands adjourned to 26th September”.
“The matter before this court not only involves ruling on the no case submission, but also touches on issues of jurisdiction. This criminal trial is like any other criminal trial in this court. The court will not be put under unnecessary pressure,” Buba said.
“Let all counsels enjoy their vacation, while the bail of the accused should continue.”
The vacation is to commence on 14th July.
The Speaker’s friends and associates had expected the court to give a final rule on the long-drawn case on Friday.
Though many did not know what angle the ruling would swing, they had expressed unhappiness that the case had continued to drag thus affecting the Lagos State House of Assembly where Ikuforiji presides as the speaker.
