RT. HON. ADEYEMI S. IKUFORIJI V FEDERAL REPBLIC OF NIGERIA

Issue:

The appellant and one Mr. Oyebode Alade Atoyebi stood trial before the Federal High Court on a 54 amended count charge dated 4th June, 2013 for accepting various cash payments above the threshold set by the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2004 (MLA 2004) and Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (MLA 2011) without going through Financial Institution. The respondent called two witnesses and tendered Exhibits P1 to P6. After the close of the respondent's case, the appellant made a No Case Submission which was upheld by the learned trial Judge. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal via Notice of Appeal dated 21stOctober, 2014. In a well-considered judgment delivered on 4thNovember, 2016, the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the trial Court and held that the respondent made a prima facie case against the appellant requiring the appellant to enter his defence. It is from the decision of the Court of Appeal that the appellant has appealed to the Honourable Supreme Court via a Notice of Appeal dated 17th January, 2017.