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
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