26th September, 2014
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji has been discharged and acquitted by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos from money laundering charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had accused Ikuforiji and Oyebode Atoyebi, his aide, of laundering around N600 million but the two-time Speaker has been acquitted in what has sparked huge euphoria amongst his supporters.
Photo: Simon Ateba
In his ruling, the judge described the trial as “anachronistic”.
“This proceeding should have been treated as an aborted trial and the charges should have been withdrawn,” he said.
The judge stated that the case which lasted for three years did not have enough evidence to prosecute Ikuforiji, noting that, the prosecution only called two witnesses that did not help much. “The prosecution failed to prove its case,” he said.
The joyous Ikuforiji along with his supporters made a brief stop at the home of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress in Ikoyi. He then headed to his office where he asked to be alone as he observed his prayers.
Ikuforiji is expected to launch his campaign to contest for the position of governor of Lagos state in the coming weeks.