G. S. SOWEMIMO, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): On Wednesday 7th December, 1977, we allowed the appeal of the Attorney General of Lagos state and dismissed a cross appeal of the above respondents against the ruling of Bada J. and indicated that we would give our considered reasons later. The three respondents along with three others were charged on an information containing 17 counts of offences under the criminal code of Lagos State. The offences comprise forgery, uttering and stealing.
Before the pleas of the accused persons were taken, Counsel for the 1st accused applied by way of motion to quash counts 1-15 of the charge on the following grounds:
"On counts 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 on the ground that the High Court of Lagos State has no jurisdiction to try the counts, it being patent on the face of the charge and the particulars thereof that they are causes or matters arising out of or relating to the Exchange Control Act 1962 and therefore triable only b…