Press Release
A Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State today reserved ruling
in the N25billion money laundering and abuse of office charge brought against Michael
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
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