Ex-Lagos Speaker Denies Laundering N338.8m, Says Trial Political

Former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has denied stealing N338.8 million belonging to the state House of Assembly.

Ikuforiji, who is standing trial over an amended 54-count charge of alleged diversion and laundering N338.8 million before the Federal High Court in Lagos, claimed that the allegations were politically- motivated.

The former speaker was docked before Justice Mohammed Liman alongside one of his legislative aides, Oyebode Atoyebi, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The anti-graft agency had on March 17, 2021, closed its case after calling the second prosecution witness, Adewale Olatunji, a former Clerk of the Lagos House of Assembly.

Ikuforiji, while testifying in his own defence, said the initial claims made against him by EFCC were about fraud and misappropriation of funds, which the commission later turned to money laundering.

He said, “it is a pity that I am standing trial today based on a faceless petition with no name or address of the writer, who alleged that I committed fraud or misappropriated the sum of over N7 billion.”

The defendant further stated that as a three-term Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly if he had indeed committed such an infraction, his case would not first get to the EFCC for trial, as members of the House would have dealt with him by first impeaching him and handing  him over to law enforcement agency.

Ikuforiji also said as the Head of the legislative arm of government, his role in any financial issue is to give final approval on àny memo put before him after the Office of the Clerk, and that of the Finance Department have done their beats.

“I don’t handle cash or disbursement of funds; it is the duty of the Office of the Clerk and the Finance Department to do that.”

When asked if the 2nd defendant, Oyebode Atoyebi, who was his assistant, did collect cash on his behalf, Ikuforiji said, “Atoyebi collect money or cash for the Office of the Speaker, who at that time had over 100 staff and not for him in person. Atoyebi can collect money for the running of the office of the Speaker and allowances of other staff.”

The judge has adjourned the matter till June 1 for the continuation of trial.