25bn Fraud: AGAIN, COURT DEFERS RULING ON IGBINEDION

A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, has again postponed ruling in the N25 billion money laundering charge filed against Michael Igbinedion, younger brother to Lucky Igbinedion, former Edo State governor and Charles Eboigbodin by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.

Justice J. Liman today adjourned the matter till April 27, 2015. It was the second adjournment of the much expected ruling in a week. On Friday April 17, 2015, the judge's failure to deliver judgment was hinged on judges’ Easter vacation.

 Words were passed to counsel that the ruling would be delivered today, April 20, 2015. But when the matter was called, Justice Liman, rather than give his ruling called counsel into his chamber to inform them that the ruling was not ready.

Many months after counsel adopted their final addresses, and re-adopted their written addresses, the judgment is yet to be delivered, leaving many wondering when the ruling would be ready.
 Igbinedion, Eboigbodin and their companies: Gava Corporation Limited; Romrig Nigeria Limited; PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited, were arraigned by the EFCC on an 81-count charge bordering on money laundering, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and abuse of office.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

20^th April, 2015