Tag: Ikuforiji

With the commencement of the distribution of permanent voter cards in Lagos yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has warned the Commission not to short-change Lagosians.

In a Press Release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, Ikuforiji said: “It is very sad that INEC has just announced that only some four million permanent voters’ cards shall be distributed from Friday, when the same INEC had publicly declared, way back in 2011, that over six million Lagosians were on its register as potential voters in the state.

“It is therefore incumbent on INEC to ensure that not a single voter in Lagos State is short-changed for whatever reason.”

Ikuforiji said it was worrisome that after waiting for so long to collect permanent voter registration cards, the time that people have eagerly awaited for so long finally came only to be told that almost about two million voters will be denied their cards.

Admonishing Lagosians to troop out for the exercise, he said: “Beginning from Friday, November 7, 2014, all Lagos residents who registered and voted during the 2011 general elections should troop out to obtain their cards.

“As residents of the state that is ranked as the best performing and most secured state in the country, it is incumbent on us all to make sure that we individually obtain the cards during the three days that have been allotted to the exercise.”

“As you all know, the importance of this permanent voter card cannot be overemphasised. Without this all-important card, our dream of electing a people-oriented government and effecting the much needed positive change in our country cannot be possible.

“You should therefore make sure that you do not allow anything to hinder you from going early to your registration cum voting centre to obtain the card beginning from Friday 7th November to Sunday 9th November.

“And to all those who are yet to register possibly due to the fact that they have just attained the voting age of 18, or that they could not register during the last exercise, they should also endeavour to get themselves registered as has already been advertised by INEC.”

He commended Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola for promptly declaring Friday 7th November as a work-free day to enable civil servants turn out en masse to collect their PVCs.

“Let me also assure all Lagosians that we in the Lagos State Government shall continue to do our best to keep sustaining the delivery of more democracy dividends to our people without let or hindrance,” Ikuforiji said.

The Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, yesterday paid a ‘thank you’ visit to the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Diocesse and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Reverend Dr Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, for his support all through the period of his trial in the High Court by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for money laundering.

The speaker, who was accompanied by his wife, Pastor Mayowa, told the Bishop that he appreciated his support in the last three years of his trial at the High Court. “You always assured me to be calm and to pray and that God would take control and indeed God took control as you rightly said,” Ikuforiji said.

He informed Ademowo that he and his wife are part of the Anglican family because they both wedded in the Anglican Church 29 years ago, “so we see you as a father and we are happy to be with you. I thank you for all that you have been doing, for your support and assistance and also for your support and assistance to government of Lagos state. We say a big thank you and we solicit for your continuous support.

“I am sure with men of God like you and a few others who stand solidly behind the government of Lagos State. , we can continue to be hopeful that God in his infinite mercy will take us to a higher height,” Ikuforiji said.

Responding to questions from journalists, Ikuforiji said, “I deem it fit to come and say a big thank you to our father here, for the support he personally has given me over the years, especially since the issue of the EFCC investigations and the court came up. He has always supported me with prayers, good words, and he is always counselling me.

“And the fact that he also showed clearly he trusted my person, he believes I was not the type that detractors were trying to paint before the world. And he was always reassuring me that he knows that God will vindicate me at the end.’’

And I think now that the court has given its ruling, I think it is right and proper to come and say thank you daddy for the support. And that is exactly what I have done and that is why my wife is here with me to say thank you to him,” Ikuforiji said.

Welcoming the Speaker earlier to his residence, Bishop Court, Marina, Bishop Ademowo congratulated Ikuforiji over the outcome of his case with the EFCC, adding that the speaker is somebody who is close him and has only come on a courtesy visit. He prayed with the speaker.

The Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) has appealed  the Federal High Court’s acquittal of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji of money laundering charges.

Justice Ibrahim Buba on September 26 upheld Ikuforiji’s no-case submission and held that the prosecution did not prove the allegations.

The commission is urging the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos to nullify the verdict and order Ikuforiji’s re-trial before another judge.

Justice Buba held that EFCC prosecuted Ikuforiji and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, “by trial and error” and that the “entire prosecution, with respect, can be described as a joke taken too far.”

According to the judge, the commission “misconceived and misinterpreted the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.”

  But EFCC, through its lawyer, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), appealed on nine grounds.

It said Justice Buba erred in law when he concluded that counts two to 48 were “incompetent” because they were filed under Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, which was repealed by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

EFCC said the counts were alleged offences committed by the respondents before June 3, 2011 when the 2011 Act came into effect.

According to the commission, Section 24 of the 2011 Act and Section 6 of the Interpretation Act provide that the repeal of the 2004 Act does not affect any offence committed during the existence of the 2004 Act.

EFCC claimed the lower court also erred in law in holding that the Acts only apply to natural persons and corporate bodies, and not government offices.

It said the law applies to artificial and natural persons, which include the government and Ikuforiji.

“Cash payments involving government entities are not excluded from the operations of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 and 2011,” the commission said.

EFCC said contrary to the judge’s view, money laundering must not be connected to terrorism, illicit narcotic, or kidnapping, but that the laws forbid cash payments beyond a certain threshold, which do not go through a financial institution.

On the judge’s finding that the prosecution witnesses’ testimonies supported the defendants’ innocence, EFCC said none of the witnesses testified that the payments went through a financial institution.

The appellant said there were exhibits showing that Atoyebi collected 57 cash payments on Ikuforiji’s behalf, of which only one – a payment to the House – passed through a financial institution.

EFCC said cash payment above the threshold set in Section One of the Money Laundering Acts is only exempted if it goes through a financial institution.

It also faulted Justice Buba’s understanding of what a no-case submission really means.

“A no-case submission is for the lower court to determine whether there is any evidence in the prosecution’s case, which shows a prima facie case against the respondent.

“At the stage of the no-case, the lower court is not expected to determine whether the case against the respondent is proved beyond reasonable doubt,” EFCC said.

It, therefore, urged the Appeal Court to uphold the appeal, set aside Justice Buba’s verdict and order a trial de novo (fresh trial).

JUSTICE Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, yesterday, acquitted Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji of the money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He upheld Ikuforiji’s no-case submission and held that the prosecution did not prove the allegation. The judge said EFCC prosecuted Ikuforiji “by trial and error” and that the whole process was “a joke taken too far.’ “It is the considered opinion of this court that the prosecution, on the no-case submission, has no answer and has not made out a prima facie case. “On other constitutional issues, the prosecution has not also answered the submissions referred to in this ruling. Consequently, the first and second accused be and are hereby discharged,” Justice Buba ruled. The Speaker and his aide Oyebode Atoyebi were re-arraigned on an amended 21-count charge of money laundering. They were accused of accepting cash payments amounting to N338.8 million from the House without going through a financial institution. Justice Buba held that Ikuforiji was charged on mere suspicion of money laundering anchored on a “baseless” petition by Lai Olotu, who “disappeared into thin air” afterwards. He said the Speaker was wrongly arraigned as the transactions that formed the basis of the charge were “duly approved in law and sactioned by law.” According to the judge, the prosecution’s witnesses gave evidence that reinforced the accused persons’ nnocence rather their proving their guilt. To the judge, the right thing would have been for EFCC to withdraw the charge when it realised it had no watertight case against Ikuforiji. “This proceeding should have been treated as an aborted trial, whereby the charge should have been withdrawn. “Having not done the needful, the court is expected and, in law entitled, to uphold the no case submission and discharge the accused,” the judge held. The judge said EFCC was in difficulty as to which offence to charge Ikuforiji with, and under which law. He further held that the prosecution’s submission that there was no record of the transactions being done through a bank “is fatally flawed”. Brimming with joy after his victory in the court, Ikuforiji, said that his three years travail with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court, has taught him to persevere in the face of daunting challenges and to expect the best even when all hopes seems lost. Ikuforiji, who addressed a world press conference after he was discharged and acquitted by the court, said the victory was not his alone, but a victory for democracy, adding that the victory was for the House, state government and journalists, who according to him stood on the side of the truth, despite being bombarded with lies.