TELL Magazine

The Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State adjourned till July 14, 2020, the N700 million alleged money laudering suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC), against Osagie Ize-Iyamu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and four others.

The other defendants in the suit are former Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dan Orbih; incumbent state PDP chairman,Tony Aziegbemi; former deputy governor of the state, Lucky Imasuen, and Efe Anthony.

The court had in its last sitting on Thursday, June 18, 2020 validated the corruption charges against the defendants and adjourned the case to July 7, 2020 for further hearing.‎

But when the case was called, Charles Edosomwan, SAN, counsel to the 1st defedant (Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu), told the Judge that his client could not make it to the court as he was indisposed.

Edosomwan prayed the judge to allow him present to the court the certificate of his ill health as certified by his medical doctor.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba, thereafter adjourned the case to July 14, 2020 for hearing.

The anti-graft agency in Suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016 had filed eight- count charge against the accused persons bordering on alleged illegal receipt of public funds to the tune of N700 million for the purpose of the 2015 general election.

The EFCC further 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.