N25bn fraud: EFCC closes case against Igbinedion today

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will today close its case in the ongo­ing trial of Michael Igbinedion, the younger brother of former Edo State governor, Lucky N. Ig­binedion.

Igbinedion, Patrick Eboigbo­din and four companies — Gava Corporation Limited, Romrig Nigeria Limited, PML Securities Company Limited and PML Ni­geria Limited — are facing trial at a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, over a N25 bil­lion scam.

In a statement issued earlier by the head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said three wit­nesses had testified for the com­mission.

The statement said: “At the re­sumed hearing on Friday, June 21, 2013, EFCC called three wit­nesses. The first witness, Mr. Ajoyo Sowale, an accounts of­ficer with Guaranty Trust Bank, identified various account state­ments and account opening documents of the accused and confirmed the lodgements made into the various accounts. He also told the court that he print­ed the various account state­ments and got them certified.

“The EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), further led the second witness, Mr. Eriyo Ama­diayagbon David, who was a per­sonal assistant to Micheal Igbin­edion, in evidence.

David told the court how the second accused, Michael Igbin­edion, instructed him on several occasions to make lodgements

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into his GTB accounts 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 ‘and after paying the gov­ernment entourage, the remaining cash is usually given to the ADC (Aide-De-Camp) to the Governor’.

“The witness further identified his name on the printed account statement of Michael Igbinedion, which is part of the exhibits before the court.

“During cross-examination, counsel to the first accused, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), asked the wit­ness if he ever stole government money with the first accused, Mr. Patrick Eboigbodin, and the wit­ness told the court that he never did.”

Justice Liman adjourned the mat­ter till September 23 and 24, 2013.