January 7, 2008
An Abuja Federal High Court today issued an arrest warrant against former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.
Mr. Igbinedion, who governed Edo State for eight years, has been out of Nigeria since leaving office at the end of May last year.
Justice Binta Nyako’s order declaring Mr. Igbinedion wanted came at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, one of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.
Igbinedion, who was a two-term governor of Edo State from 1999 to 2007, has been slammed with 142 counts of stealing, corruption and abuse of office. He is being charged in absentia since he is currently on the run.
A Nigerian newspaper, Thisday, had reported that Igbinedion was considering returning to Nigeria from his hide-out in Morocco in view of the government’s recent sidelining of Nuhu Ribadu, the EFCC chairman who had vowed to prosecute him. Inquiries with law enforcement as well as EFCC revealed that Mr. Igbinedion did not return to Nigeria as reported.
Saharareporters has learned from Federal High Court sources that the international arrest warrant has been officially sent to the Interpol to facilitate Mr. Igbinedion’s arrest and extradition to Nigeria to face multiple charges of corruption and money laundering.
Court sources also told Saharareporters that the EFCC was on the cusp of receiving court-issued arrest warrants on two former governors. “You should expect the EFCC to arraign and commence the prosecution of two more ex-governors in the coming days,” said the source.
Saharareporters could not confirm whether Interpol has already put out any notices regarding the request from Nigeria declaring Lucky Igbinedion wanted.
Mr. Igbinedion, who governed Edo State for eight years, has been out of Nigeria since leaving office at the end of May last year.
Justice Binta Nyako’s order declaring Mr. Igbinedion wanted came at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, one of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.
Igbinedion, who was a two-term governor of Edo State from 1999 to 2007, has been slammed with 142 counts of stealing, corruption and abuse of office. He is being charged in absentia since he is currently on the run.
A Nigerian newspaper, Thisday, had reported that Igbinedion was considering returning to Nigeria from his hide-out in Morocco in view of the government’s recent sidelining of Nuhu Ribadu, the EFCC chairman who had vowed to prosecute him. Inquiries with law enforcement as well as EFCC revealed that Mr. Igbinedion did not return to Nigeria as reported.
Saharareporters has learned from Federal High Court sources that the international arrest warrant has been officially sent to the Interpol to facilitate Mr. Igbinedion’s arrest and extradition to Nigeria to face multiple charges of corruption and money laundering.
Court sources also told Saharareporters that the EFCC was on the cusp of receiving court-issued arrest warrants on two former governors. “You should expect the EFCC to arraign and commence the prosecution of two more ex-governors in the coming days,” said the source.
Saharareporters could not confirm whether Interpol has already put out any notices regarding the request from Nigeria declaring Lucky Igbinedion wanted.
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