Find the EFCC press release below....
Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo
State yesterday reserved ruling in the
N25billion money laundering and abuse
of office charge brought against Micheal
Igbinedion and Charles Eboigbodin by
the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, for January 30,
2015.
Justice J. Liman on Friday November
14, 2014, fixed the January 30 date for
judgement after the adoption of written
addresses by counsel: Rotimi Jacob
SAN for the prosecution and Mike
Ozekhome SAN, Ricky Tafa SAN and
Barr. Richard O. Ahonaruogo for the
accused persons
The accused persons along with their
companies: Gava Corporation Limited;
Romrig Nigeria Limited; PML Securities
Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited,
were arraigned by the anti- graft agency on a
81-count charge bothering on Money
Laundering, Misappropriation of funds,
conspiracy and Abuse of office.
While addressing the court, Jacobs hinged
his submission on the testimonies of
prosecution witnesses which, according to
him, corroborated the charge, with emphasis
on the several public funds deposited into
private accounts, and how government funds
were used to repay loans collected by former
governor Lucky Igbinedion while he was in
office.
Jacobs then prayed the court to "accept the
prosecution’s case as presented and convict
the accused persons as charged".
But before closing his address, the
prosecuting counsel called the attention of
the court to the inability of the bailiff to serve
the summon earlier issued by it on the former
Edo State governor, who failed to present
himself in court, after the Appeal Court
decision in April, asking him to return to the
High Court for trial.
Jacobs disclosed that all efforts by the bailiff
to serve Lucky Igbinedion with the summon,
met a brick wall as he was always turned
back from the gate by security men who told
him on all occasions that Igbinedion was out
of town.
The EFCC counsel then prayed the court to
permit a substituted service of the summon
on the last known address of Igbinedion.
"May I apply that the first accused person be
served by allowing the prosecution paste the
notice at the known address,” he said.
But Justice Liman advised the prosecuting
counsel to make an application. According to
him, "the summon has expired, you can
reapply or ask for a substituted service as
there are other means of service. Prosecution
must make another application."
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
14th November, 2014
