Igbinendion: Judge in N10bn bribe scandal

Posted by admin Edo, General Politics, Governors, Judiciary, National Politics, State News Sunday, May 8th, 2011

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs Farida Waziri, has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations that a judge of the federal high court has been paid a whopping N10 billion to thwart the course of justice in the ongoing trial of former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinendion.

The EFCC boss was said to have on Thursday constituted a team of operatives to look into the allegation against the judge. The team which was put together in the Lagos office of the Commission, has begun to obtain further information on the bank accounts and assets of the judge as well as those of his family, friends and associates.

The former governor is presently facing fresh charges along with his younger brother, associate and companies for allegedly stealing N25bn from the treasury of Edo State while he was governor of the state between 1999 and 2007.The latest charge against him was filed before Justice Adamu Hobon of the federal high court, Benin.

Waziri was said to have ordered the probe following an information provided by a whistle blower who got wind of the deal.

When contacted on the probe, EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi confirmed the development, adding that the Commission had a responsibility to investigate every information given by whistle blowers or any patriotic Nigerian.

Meanwhile, the Commission has explained why it failed to succumb to the pressure of defreezing the bank accounts of former Intercontinental Bank CEO, Erastus Akingbola, in the United Kingdom saying that such would jeopardise its case against the accused person in court.

Babafemi, who explained that the offer to get Akingbola return over 14 million pounds from his frozen UK accounts would not serve the interest of justice on the long run, stated that both the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke, and the EFCC chairman, Waziri, had since distanced themselves from the offer.

He said the Commission was equally interested in investigating circumstances surrounding the bid to defreeze Akingbola’s accounts.

-Punchwp_posts