N700m Fraud: Court Validates Money Laundering Charges against Ize-Iyamu
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 the All Progressive Congress governorship aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Ize-Iyamu was formerly the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in 2016, was charged alongside with Lucky Imasuen, former deputy governor of Edo State, Dan Orbih, the state PDP chairman, Tony Anemia, former minister of works, Tony Aziegbemi and Efe Erimuoghae for an eight count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of #700m.
The presiding judge, Justice P. I Ajoku, was transferred and the case had to begin all over again, and was subsequently reassigned to Justice M. G Umar.
The defendants had at the last sitting, challenged the charges on the ground that they contained the name of Tony Anenih, who was named co-defendant, had died and the charges had yet to be amended.
At the resume sitting on Thursday, Francis Jibro, the prosecution counsel, told the court that the matter was ruling on the competence of the charges preferred against the defendants.
The presiding judge, Justice M. G Umar ruled that the charges filed by the EFCC against the defendants “were not defectve”.
After the ruling, Charles Edosomwan, counsel to the first defendant, told the court that he had 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 proceeding, he said.
However, the prosecution 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 the pleas.
Justice Umar adjourned the case till July 2, 2020 for hearing.
