EFCC to appeal Ikuforiji’s acquittal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intends to appeal against the ruling of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which set free the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,  Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi.

Both men had been standing trial on a 54-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N503 million.

Justice Buba ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the accused persons, saying the trial was “anachronistic” and the prosecution “misconstrued and misinterpreted the Money Laundering Act”.

Lead defense counsel, Wole Olanipekun( SAN), had prayed the court to discountenance the charges preferred against Ikuforiji, saying the Money Laundering Act 2004, with which the accused person was charged, has been repealed and replaced with the Money Laundering Act 2011, and so should not have been used in charging him.

Atoyebi’s counsel, Tunde Akinbisi, aligned his submissions with the arguments of Olanipekun.

Justice Buba upheld Olanipekun’s submissions and ruled that the first and second defendants were discharged and acquitted

But the EFCC has expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling.

“The learned judge erred in this ruling,” its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said.

“The proof of evidence to the charge clearly showed that the provisions of the Money Laundering Act had been violated by the accused persons in receiving various cash payments from the assembly amounting to about N338.8m,” he added.

The commission stated that it would explore the option of appeal to bring the accused persons to justice.”