by Akan Ido

A Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Godwin Obla has withdrawn from the money laundering case against the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

Ikuforiji and his personal assistant, Oluyemi were dragged before the Federal High Court for allegedly accepting over N500m from the Assembly without passing through a financial institution.

The EFCC prosecuting counsel, Godwin Obla said he was withdrawing from the case due to the manner in which the court fixed dates for the trial. He explained that this would deny him the ability to diligently prosecute the case.

Obla had reportedly told the court through a letter dated March 22, 2013 that he would  be having “obligations” on the 13 days which the court fixed for the trial.

According to the private lawyer, “It is important that I draw His Lordship’s attention to the fact that, regrettably, the new dates didn’t take into consideration the dates that I was previously committed in other legal proceedings before various courts and Arbitral Tribunals which dates were communicated in my letter of March 22, 2013.

“The new dates clearly conflict with those long-scheduled obligations.”