Trial of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and four others at the Federal High Court, Benin, on Thursday, suffered a setback as the court failed to sit.
But the Court adjourned the case to July 7 for hearing.
Other defendants in the suit inlcude a former Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih; current state Chairman of the party, Tony Aziegbemi; a former deputy governor of Edo State, Lucky Imasuen, and Efe Erimuoghae Anthony.
The Edo APC standard bearer and other defendants were to appear before Justice M. Umar over an eight-count charge of money laundering filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The N700 million involved in the matter was meant to prosecute the 2015 general elections in Edo State.
EFCC, in suit No. FHC/BE21C/2016, said Ize-Iyamu and four others allegedly received public funds illegally to the tune of N700 million for the purpose of the 2015 general elections, contrary to the provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit the offence in March 2015, and they took possession and control of the funds without being awarded any contract worth that sum.
On June 18, the court had validated the corruption charges against the defendants and adjourned the case to July 02, for further hearing.
But at the resumed hearing on Thursday, the Court could not sit for reasons not disclosed.
Some of the defendants and their counsel were observed to be present around the Court premises.
Counsel to the incumbent Edo PDP chairman, Pascal Ugbomhe, told journalists that the case had been adjourned till July 7, 2020.
When asked the reason for the adjournment, he said, “It is a normal occurrence in court duties. “It’s nothing unusual to adjourn matters.
“The defendants and counsel have been in court since about 8am and the Court officials only informed us that the matter has been adjourned to 7th of July.”