With barely eight days to the January 30 date fixed for the judgment in the N25billion money laundering charge against Michael Igbinedion, brother of ex- Edo state governor, Lucky Igbinedion and Charles Eboigbodin by Justice J. Liman of the Federal High Court, Benin, alarm has been raised over surreptitious moves to compromise the case.
One of the accused persons, is alleged for have confided in close aides that he has been sending money to persons that could help him ensure a soft landing in the matter, including overtures to the prosecution and the judge. He boasted to have reached out with an offer of N50million to one of the parties, after the adoption of final addresses in the case last November.
This is the second time issue of bribery is coming into the open in the case, a few months ago, a lawyer who was approached by the same accused person declined to take his brief after he was told in no uncertain terms that the judge had been “spoken to”..
These innuendos are worrisome, as they cast a pall of doubt on the integrity of the proposed judgment. “These claims put the judge into focus. His integrity is a stake, and it is important that he puts those who want to pervert the cause of justice to shame,” a knowledgeable source said
A few years ago, Lucky Igbinedion, former Edo Sate governor who is also an accused person, in this case, received a slap on the wrist in a controversial judgment by the Federal High Court, Enugu. Justice Abdullahi Kafarati offered him an option of N3.5million fine after finding him guilty on one count charge of corruption. Till today, the judge is still haunted by the ruling.
Charles Eboigbodin and Micheal Igbinedion, along with their companies; Gava Corporation Limited; Romrig Nigeria Limited; PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited are being prosecuted by the EFCC. for an N25Billion scam, bothering on; Money Laundering, Misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and Abuse of office.
At the last adjourned date, November 14, 2014, January 30 was reserved for judgement after the adoption of written addresses by both the prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacob SAN, and the defence counsels: Mike Ozekhome SAN, Ricky Tafa SAN and Barr. Richard O. Ahonaruogo.
While addressing the court, Jacobs hinged his submission on the testimonies of both the prosecutions witnesses and those of the defence which according to him collaborated the charge, with emphasis on the several public funds deposited into private accounts, and how government funds were used to repay several loans collected by the former governor while he was in office.
Jacobs then prayed the court to "accept the prosecutions case as presented and convict the accused persons as charged".
It would be recalled that during trial, a prosecution witness Mr. Ajoyo Sowale, an Accounts Officer with the Guaranty Trust Bank, identified various account statements and account opening documents of the accused persons and confirmed to the court that several lodgements were made into the various accounts, and that he printed the various account statements and got them certified by the appropriate authority.
Another witness Mr. Eriyo Amadiayagbon David who was a Personal Assistant to Micheal Igbinedion also told the court how he was instructed on several occasions to make lodgements into his GTB account and those of Romrig Nigeria Limited and Gava Corporation. According to David, he usually received cash from the Accountant at the Government House and paid into the account of the second accused person, "and after paying the government entourage, the remaining cash was usually given to the ADC to the Governor". David further identified his name on the printed account statement of Michael Igbinedion, which is part of the exhibits before the court.
Abdullahi Hamza an EFCC operative who was also a witness in the trial, further gave a detailed account of how investigations were conducted and how it was discovered that state funds were diverted by the accused persons for other personal purposes, such as buying of various shares, and several payments made into the account of Ekpenyong and Sons, a company owned by the first accused person, Patrick Eboigbodin.