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EFCC seals off Igbinedion’s
Abuja houses
From TONY OSAUZO, Benin
Wednesday,
March 9, 2011
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed
off two choice houses of former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.
The properties are those on 7, Justice Fatai Williams Street, Asokoro
Abuja and 5 Danube Crescent, Maitama Abuja. The exercise was carried
out on the heels of a forfeiture order granted the EFCC on Tuesday,
March 1, by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, authorized the
commission to seize 11 choice properties traced to the former governor.
The exercise, which began in Abuja yesterday, was expected to cover
those in other cities in the coming days.
The EFCC team comprising operatives from the Assets Forfeiture Unit
of the Commission met with occupants of the two houses located in
the Asokoro and Maitama districts of Abuja. At the Asokoro house,
Mr. Joshua Abongeriouyi and Felix Bassey, who identified themselves
as cook and security men respectively to the ex-governor, confirmed
that the former governor owns the property.
The two aides along with a young lady, who refused to identify herself
but simply said she was a cousin to the ex-governor, however, refused
to receive the court order from the EFCC team.
At the Danube Street property in Maitama, the only occupant who
refused to reveal his name told the EFCC team that he did not know
the owner of the property.
It would be recalled that Justice Idris, had, after considering
an ex-parte application by a counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs,
granted the forfeiture order, which now authorizes the EFCC to seize
the properties.
Igbinedion and six others were facing a 66-count charge bordering
on money laundering and mismanagement of public funds amounting
to about N3.2 billion. The other accused persons are Patrick Eboigbodin;
Michael Igbinedion and four firms: Gava Corporation Limited; Romrig
Nigeria Limited, PML Securities Limited and PML (Nigeria) Limited.
In line with the forfeiture order, the seized assets are: a block
of four flats at No 43 Etete Road, Benin City; a property housing
Chicken Republic along Sapele Road, Benin City; a property at No
3 Boundary Road, Benin City; a building at No 20B Estate Road, Benin
City; a building along Ugbor Police Station Road, Benin City; a
mansion at Asokoro, Abuja; a house at neighbourhood of Etete and
Ugbor, Benin City; Sheraton Hotel at Government House Road, Benin
City; a property at No 55C Adebisi Omotola Close, off Samuel Adedoyin
Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, a property at No 5 Danube Crescent,
Maitama, Abuja and a house at No 29, Sheldon Avenue, Highgate, London.
Igbinedion, had at a previous court session, been ordered by Justice
Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court, Benin to physically appear
in court on March 22, or be summoned through a bench warrant.
The former governor, his younger brother, Michael and Patrick Eboigbodin
were expected to be presented by their counsel for arraignment in
court to answer to a fresh 66-count charge of graft filed against
him by the EFCC.
Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs had pleaded with the court to issue
an order for a bench warrant against Igbinedion and others, for
failing to appear personally for the trial.
He argued that; “in a serious criminal matter such as this,
they cannot sit in the comfort of their homes and say their lawyers
will say it for them.”
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