By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH
LAGOS—SPEAKER, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi,  were, yesterday, relieved of the bench warrant issued against them by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The order of the court vacating the warrant of arrest was sequel to the application by Ikuforiji’s counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo,SAN, who led Joseph Nwobike (SAN) and Ugwuzor Adindu (for the defence).

Oyetibo had explained that the Speaker was not aware of the proceedings which necessitated the issuance of the bench warrant.

In his short ruling, Justice Tsoho hinged his decision to vacate the order on the grounds that the prosecution lawyer did not object to the accused persons’ application for the vacation of the arrest warrant and that the defence withdrew its application dated December 12.

As soon as the case was called, Ikuforiji’s lawyer drew the attention of the court to the presence of Ikuforiji and Atoyebi in court, stating that the accused came to court willingly, requesting for the court’s permission to move the pending application before the court challenging the bench warrant.