Court Lifts Arrest Order On Lagos Speaker.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has vacated an order of arrest issued against the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji and his personal Assistant, Alade Atoyebi.
The decision of the court to vacate the order was sequel to an application made by the counsel to the accused persons, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, Joseph Wurobike, SAN, leading nine other lawyers.
In his submission, Oyetibo prayed the court to cancel the warrant of arrest issued against the Speaker and his aide because the defendants were not served with any court summons to appear in court before the bench warrant was issued.
Oyetibo argued further that the two accused persons came voluntarily from their houses.
“Therefore, the issue of bench warrant is no longer needed since the purpose of issuing the bench warrant was to compel the accused persons to appear before the court which they have voluntarily done,” he submitted.
In addition, Oyetibo assured that the two accused persons will honour the invitation sent to them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at their Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday.
The counsel added that the Speaker and his aide will also be in court on 17 January, 2012 for the purpose of arraignment.
In his reaction, the EFCC counsel, Chief Godwin Obla did not object to the request of the defence counsel.
He told the court that he believed that the two accused persons were honourable men who will honour the EFCC invitation on Monday so that the agency can take a second look at their administrative bail.
He said he also believed that the two accused persons will make themselves available on 17 January, 2012 for the purpose of arraignment.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice James Tsoho, vacated the court’s earlier order and adjourned the matter till 17 January, 2012.
The decision of the court to vacate the order was sequel to an application made by the counsel to the accused persons, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, Joseph Wurobike, SAN, leading nine other lawyers.
In his submission, Oyetibo prayed the court to cancel the warrant of arrest issued against the Speaker and his aide because the defendants were not served with any court summons to appear in court before the bench warrant was issued.
Oyetibo argued further that the two accused persons came voluntarily from their houses.
“Therefore, the issue of bench warrant is no longer needed since the purpose of issuing the bench warrant was to compel the accused persons to appear before the court which they have voluntarily done,” he submitted.
In addition, Oyetibo assured that the two accused persons will honour the invitation sent to them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at their Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday.
The counsel added that the Speaker and his aide will also be in court on 17 January, 2012 for the purpose of arraignment.
In his reaction, the EFCC counsel, Chief Godwin Obla did not object to the request of the defence counsel.
He told the court that he believed that the two accused persons were honourable men who will honour the EFCC invitation on Monday so that the agency can take a second look at their administrative bail.
He said he also believed that the two accused persons will make themselves available on 17 January, 2012 for the purpose of arraignment.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice James Tsoho, vacated the court’s earlier order and adjourned the matter till 17 January, 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment