A federal high court sitting in Benin, Edo state, has
validated the money laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Osagie Ize -Iyamu.
Ize-Iyamu is contesting for the state’s governorship
election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and he is said
to be backed by Adams Oshiomhole, suspended national chairman of the party.
He was formerly a member of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) and had contested the governorship election as a candidate of the party
in 2016.
Joined as co-defendants in the suit were Lucky Imasuen,
former deputy governor of Edo; Dan Orbih, the state PDP chairman; Tony
Aziegbemi and Efe Erimuoghae.
Ize-Iyamu and the other defendants were first arraigned on
an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering in May 2018.
They were alleged to have, sometime in March 2015, “directly
taken possession of the sum of N700,000,000 without any contract award”.
The money was alleged to be part of the proceeds of “an
unlawful act”.
At the sitting on Thursday, Francis Jibro, prosecution
counsel, told the court that the matter was for ruling on the competence of the
charges preferred against the defendants.
M.G. Umar, the presiding judge, ruled that the charges filed
by the EFCC against the defendants “were not defective”.
The defendants had, at the last sitting, challenged the
charges on the ground that they contained the name of Tony Anenih, a founding
member of the PDP, who is now deceased.
After the ruling, Charles Edosomwan, counsel to the first
defendant, told the court that he has filed a motion challenging the
jurisdiction of the court.
“In spite of the ruling, we have a motion dated June 1,
2020, challenging the jurisdiction of this honourable court to entertain
proceedings,” he said.
However, the prosecuting counsel objected, saying based on
the ruling of the court which found the charges not defective, the next thing
for the defendants was to take their pleas.
He said the defence counsels were not to dictate to the
court.
“The stage is set for us to proceed based on the ruling of
the court this morning, not this motion. My Lord has ruled that any objection
can be taken after plea has been taken. No exception,” Jibro said.
The case was, thereafter, adjourned to July 2 for hearing.
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