Igbinedion Remanded in EFCC Custody

The Federal High Court, Enugu yesterday remanded the former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a 147-count-charge of money laundering and stealing was brought against him by the commission.
Igbinedion, who arrived the court at exactly 12.56 pm, was put in the dock at 1.25pm for over two hours, while the charges were read to him.

The former governor who appeared unruffled pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The Presiding judge, Justice Faji Olayinka, had suspended the charges brought against the fourth accused, Ekpen and Sons, as the company and representatives were said to be at large.
This followed an application to withdraw charges 147 to 156 by the counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, when the judge observed that nobody appeared for the fourth accused.

Justice Olayinka had noted as the charges were being read to Igbinedion that there was no appearance for the fourth accused, a situation, he said, was wrong.
He said the companies named in the case should have appeared before the court for trial.
It was as a result of this he inquired if the EFCC counsel was prepared to apply for the withdrawal of the charges, which Jacobs did.
Ruling on the application for the withdrawal of the charges against the fourth accused, Justice Olayinka said the case could be brought before the court when EFCC succeeds in bringing the accused to appear in court.

However, after reading the charges against Igbinedion, the EFCC counsel informed the court that he had just been served with an application for bail for the accused,
He told the court he needed time to discuss with his clients in Abuja explaining that it would take him at least Monday to study the affidavit by counsel to Igbinedion, Mr. Adetunji Oyeyipo.
Responding, Oyeyipo told the court there was nothing contentious in the affidavit, adding that perhaps EFCC wanted to make something out of what he described as inconsequential.
Justice Olayinka told the counsel to file subsequent addresses in writing before February 1, after which the case would be argued.

He explained that due to a valedictory session for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court sometime next week, he would not be able to hear the case until after January 28.
He then adjourned further hearing on the bail application brought by Igbinedion to February 4, explaining that on that date the court would adopt all addresses.
On the issue of custody of the ex-governor pending when his bail application will be determined, the court obliged the request of Igbinedion's counsel that his client be remanded in EFCC custody.
Yesterday’s arraignment of the former governor did not start early as Justice Olayinka had travelled to Abuja for the swearing-in ceremony of the new President of the Appeal Court.
He came back yesterday afternoon to commence the case.
He drove into the court premises around 12.22pm following which sitting started few minutes later.
Igbinedion was accompanied by top officials of EFCC in the state and armed operatives of the commission.

He was immediately led to the court room where he sat for some minutes before the court started sitting.
At first, Justice Olayinka on entering the court allowed Igbinedion to sit down in the dock but he later asked the ex-governor to stand up when the charges were being read to him.
Igbinedion, who returned to the country last Sunday, was detained on Monday by EFCC as he turned himself in.
True to his promise to make himself available to the commission, the former governor surrendered himself to EFCC around 12.30 pm on Monday.
EFCC had earlier declared him wanted for alleged money laundering and stealing of amounts totaling N2.9bn during his tenure following a warrant obtained from the Federal High Court Kaduna.