Court adjourns N700 million fraud suit against Ize-Iyamu, others

A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has adjourned the money laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State in 2016, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and four others till July 2.

The other four defendants are former deputy governor of Edo, Lucky Imasuen; Edo PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih; Tony Aziegbemi and Efe Erimuoghae.

At yesterday’s sitting, prosecution counsel, Francis Jibro, told the court that the matter was for ruling on the competence of the eight-count charges preferred against the defendants.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, ruled that the charges filed 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 Chief Tony Anenih, who is now deceased.

Soon after the ruling, counsel to the first defendant, Charles Edosomwan, told the court that he had filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

“Despite the ruling, we have a motion dated June 1, 2020, challenging the jurisdiction of this honourable court to entertain proceedings,” he said.

Counsel to the other defendants canvassed the same position.