By Innocent Anaba

The trial of Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, for money laundering charges, is expected to resume tomorrow before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

But with the adjournments the matter had suffered, one is not too sure the hearing will hold.

When the trial judge, Justice Okechukwu Okeke, order accelerated hearing and adjourned for 13 straight days, one had thought that the prosecution had a water-tight case against the Speaker, hence it’s dilly-dallying and frequent requests for adjournments.

The Speaker and his aide Oyebode Atoyebi, are charged by EFCC for allegedly accepting over N500 million from the Assembly without passing through a financial institution, an allegation they denied.

Most of the adjournments had been at the instance of the prosecution, leading the defence counsel to ask that the matter be struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

On February 18, the prosecution, led by Godwin Obla, asked Justice Okeke to stand down the matter till 11am “to allow counsel for the prosecution appear in a highly contentious public interest fundamental human right proceeding,” before another judge.

Opposing the application, Ikuforiji’s counsel Tayo Oyetibo, recalled that on October 21, the court had indicated that it was prepared to hear the matter from day to day.

But the court adjourned at the instance of the prosecution.

Again, on March 25, the prosecution was not in court. Defence complained, recalling other adjournment requests.

Obla had said in court on March 25: “The first defendant is the sitting Speaker of the House of Lagos State. The case ought to be given accelerated hearing so that the people of Lagos State can know within a reasonable time his guilt or innocence.”

The court did not dismiss the charge, but adjourned till April 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25 and 25.

At the last hearing, Obla withdrew from the trial.

In his letter dated April 5 to the court’s registrar, he said the manner in which the court fixed dates would deny him the ability to diligently prosecute the case.

Obla, who was not present in court on March 25, when the dates were fixed, said the 13 days was scheduled without considering his commitment in other cases at other courts.

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

His withdrawal forced Justice Okeke, who will retire next month, to cancel the dates.

Head of EFCC’s Legal Department, Mr. Alli Yusuf, said he was informed late about Obla’s withdrawal and needs three weeks to study the file.

The defence complained that EFCC was handling the case with levity, asking the court to dismiss the charge for lack of diligent prosecution.

Observers wonder if there is not more to the prosecution’s frequent requests for adjournments than meets the eye. Is there a hidden agenda?

Justice Okeke adjourned till tomorrow for trial, but will this be the last adjournment at the prosecution’s instance?