The Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State, presided over by Justice M. G. Umar has fixed March 26, for ruling on applications filed by former Peoples Democratic party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and four others challenging the competency of the charges raised against.
The four other defendants in the suit include the state PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih; former Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen; ex- member of the Federal House of Representatives, Tony Azegbemi and Efe Anthony.
On resumption of hearing on Monday, counsels to the five defendants led by Ferdinand Orbih SAN, after adopting their written addresses urged the court to strike out the charges against the defendants on the grounds that they were incompetent.
Ferdinand Orbih contended that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should have amended their charges against the defendants by removing Late Chief Tony Anenih’s name from the charges rather than saying the late politician was irrelevant to the substance of the case.
The anti-graft agency in Suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016 had filed an eight count charge against the accused persons bordering on alleged illegal receipt of public funds to the tune of N700 million for the purpose of the 2015 general election, contrary to the provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
The EFCC further accused the defendants of conspiring among themselves to commit the offence in March, 2015, alleging that they took possession and control of the funds without any contract award.
