Lucky Igbinedion remanded in Prison till February 4th 2008

The trial of former Edo State Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, over money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)commenced this afternoon before Justice Olayinka Faji of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu. Igbinedion’s lawyer, Richard Ahonaruogho and that of the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, had arrived the court for the trial and waited for Justice Faji to arrive.

P.M.News gathered that Igbinedion was moved to Enugu yesterday by EFCC officials to face trial today.

According to sources at the court, Justice Faji arrived late because he was at the swearing in of Justice Belgore as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday.

The trial was ongoing as at press time at 1 p.m.

Chief Igbinedion, who is facing a 156-count charge of money laundering, was arraigned in the court this morning by officials of EFCC for money laundering.

Igbinedion was alleged to have laundered more than N2.5 billion of Edo state government fund into a personal account, using a company Gava Corporation Limited owned by his father, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, as a front.

The former governor was arrested and detained on Monday when he visited the EFCC office on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He had earlier been declared wanted by the EFCC which obtained a court warrant to arrest him for money laundering allegations.

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