N700m fraud: Judge’s absence stalls Ize-Iyamu’s trial, case adjourned to July 7…Ize-Iyamu fails to appear in Court



The trial of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19, gubernatorial election in Edo State and four others in the alleged N700 million fraud case preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was stalled on Thursday due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Umar Garba.

The case was adjourned to July 7, 2020.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was also absent in Court, while his Counsel, Barrister Peter Uwadiae was present.

Counsel to the 3rd defendant, Pascal Ugbome, told journalists in Benin City, that parties in the suit picked the date.

The Court had on June 18, 2020 validated the corruption charges against the defendants and adjourned the case to Thursday, July, 02, 2020, for further hearing.

Speaking on Thursday, Ugbome explained: “It is a normal occurrence in court activities. It is nothing unusual and nothing unnatural for the court to adjourn the matter. The court has said that their hands are full, and so they have to reschedule the matter according to their convenience.”

Former deputy governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, who is also joined in the suit, was seen in the company of Mr. Washington Osifo in Court on Thursday.

Security presence was visible at strategic locations and in the court premises.

The EFCC, in Suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016, said Ize-Iyamu and four others allegedly received public funds illegally to the tune of N700 million for the purpose of the 2015 general elections, contrary to the provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

 

Other defendants in the suit include former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Imasuen; Efe Erimuoghae Anthony and two others.

One of the counts reads: That you Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, Tony Azigbemi, Chief Dan Orbih, Efe Erimuoghae Anthony and Chief Anthony Anenih (now at large) sometime March 2015 in Benin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly take possession and control of the sum of 700,000,000.00 (seven hundred million naira) only, without any contract award which sum you reasonably ought to have known, form part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit; fraud and corruption; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3)of the same Act.

 

Show quoted text

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Edo 2020: Group launches campaign against godfatherism, declares support for Obaseki's reelection bid

  A socio-political group, Bury Godfatherism Movement (BGM), has drummed support to the second term aspiration of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, vowing to mobilise Edo people to put an end to godfatherism during the state's governorship election scheduled for September 2020.   The group said it was shocking to see how the suspended National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is aspiring to be the new Edo godfather after the people supported him to defeat godfathers in the state.   Speaking at the launch of its public campaign in Benin City, President of the group, Osamede Oghogho, said it was shameful to see a man who popularised words such as "Let the people Lead", "No More godfatherism" and "No Man is God," transform himself into another godfather.   Oghogho said young graduates came together to form the movement for the purpose of ensuring that godfatherism is finally buried in Edo State during the
Read more

N700m fraud: APC guber candidate, Ize-Iyamu risks arrest over continuous absence from corruption trial

Image
    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osagie Ize-Iyamu, risks arrest if he fails to appear in Court on July 14, for the continuation of the hearing of the alleged N700m money laundering case preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).   A Federal High Court in Benin City, had on Tuesday, July 2, adjourned the matter to July 14 due to the absence of Ize-Iyamu, who was said to be indisposed.   The trial had been delayed due to Ize-Iyamu's absence, even as the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba, had earlier validated the charges against him.   Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the first defendant in the suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016 filed by the EFCC, who accused the defendants of conspiring among themselves to commit the offence in March 2015, alleging that they took possession and control of the funds without any contract award.   The judge rejected the oral request for a prolonged adjournment of the case by the Counsel to I
Read more

N700m fraud: Group charges Edo youths to pay close attention to Ize-Iyamu's corruption trial

Image
  A group, Concerned Citizens of Edo State has charged youths in the state to meticulously follow the trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer in the September 19 governorship election in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.   In a statement signed by its Secretary, Mr. Orobosa Igbinoba, the group said it was pertinent to put young people and all right-thinking members of the public at alert on the case, due to the enormity of the allegations, as it would be unfair to make decisions without understanding the character and dealings of someone they are being presented with to run as governor.   The group said, "We call on Edo youths to be aware that Pastor Ize-Iyamu would be standing trial for a N700m money laundering case preferred against him and four others by the EFCC. The case comes up in court on July 2, 2020. After numerous tricks to detract the court, the judge has validated the charges preferre
Read more