The Federal High Court sitting in Benin will on July 7 continue the trial of Edo governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Other defendants are ex-Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dan Orbih; incumbent chair, Tony Aziegbemi; former Edo Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, and Efe Erimuoghae-Anthony.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu and others were supposed to appear on Thursday before Justice M.G. Umar, as was earlier scheduled.
Counsel to Tony Aziegbemi, Pascal Ugbomhe, told newsmen that the case was adjourned till July 7.
“It is a normal occurrence in court duties. It’s nothing unusual to adjourn matters. The court officials informed us that the matter has been adjourned to July 7”, NAN quoted him as saying.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) put them on trial over alleged receipt of N700million public funds ahead of the 2015 general election.
EFCC in Suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016 filed eight-count charges against the accused persons.
One of the counts said in March 2015 in Benin, they “took possession of the sum of N700,000,000 without any contract award which sum you reasonably ought to have known form part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit; fraud and corruption”.
The offence was contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
