EFCC arraigns Lagos Speaker, aide for money laundering...

Hello Friends! 

Courtesy of Punch Newspapers, is this story...To me, the hunt for corrupt leaders in Nigeria, is yet
to really begin!

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, before a Federal High Court in Lagos for money laundering.

Also arraigned in the court presided over by Justice Okechukwu Okeke on Thursday was the Speaker’s Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi.The accused were charged with amended 20 counts of money laundering.

The EFCC alleged that between April 2010 and July 2011, the accused conspired to illegally accept various cash payments of N510m from the House of Assembly without going through a financial institution.The arraignment before Justice Okeke followed the transfer of the case by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, from Justice John Tsoho, who earlier disqualified himself from the case.

EFCC’s counsel, Godwin Obla, had earlier sought that the charge should be read to the defendants.The defense counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not object to the reading of the charge to his clients.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to all the counts, were granted bail shortly after taking their plea.The Speaker was granted bail on personal recognition. However, Justice Okeke demanded that the Clerk of the state House of Assembly, Segun Habiru, should stand as surety for Atoyebi’s bail.Though Obla did not oppose the accused persons’ bail application, he had, however, urged the court to reject Oyetibo’s demand that their bail be hinged on personal recognition.

Justice Okeke adjourned the matter till March 26 and 27 for trial.

The EFCC said the accused persons’ offence contravened sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under Sections 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.

Last Words: I sincerely do not have much to say at all! It's truly pathetic that Nigeria is so rich yet, some "thieves" who call themselves leaders are looting our funds in different manner. I am happy that the Rule Of Law took its course in Ibori's case. So simply put, IBORI DOWN, MORE THIEVES TO FOLLOW!

XOXO

Simply Cheska.