Court Rules Against Ize-iyamu, Insists On Jurisdiction Over N700m Laundering Case

 

A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State today, Tuesday 23, 2021 ruled that it has jurisdiction to entertain the money laundering charge brought against Pastor Osagie Ize -Iyamu, PDP governorship candidate in the 2016 governorship election in the state, and four others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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

The defendants have been supposed to have someday in March 2015 in Benin City immediately taken ownership of the sum of seven hundred million ( N700, 000,000) without any contract award which sum become allegedly part of proceeds of an illegal act..
One of the charges reads: “That you Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, Tony Aziegbemi, Chief Dan Orbih, Efe Erimuoghae Anthony and Chief Anthony Anenih (now at huge) someday in March 2015 in Benin in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did at once take possession and manage of the sum of N700,000,000.00 (700 million naira) best with none agreement award which sum you reasonably must have regarded shape part of proceeds of an illegal act, to wit; fraud and corruption; and thereby devoted an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended by using the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(three)of the same Act”.

They had pleaded no longer responsible to the fees putting the level for their trial. However, Charles Edosomwan, SAN, counsel to the first defendant challenged the jurisdiction of the Court to pay attention the matter since the charges filed towards the defendants had been primarily based on election depend. He argued that an appropriate Court to strive electoral depend was the Magistrate or High Court of the state.

In his ruling nowadays, Justice M. G Umar said the matter before the Court become cash laundering which the Federal High Court has distinctive jurisdiction over and consequently disregarded their utility.
He berated the defendants for filing the motion which he said changed into meant to waste the time of the Court.

Justice Umar adjourned the case till May 18, 2021 for in addition listening to.