Sunday, January 30, 2011

EFCC to declare Igbinedion wanted over N25bn fraud



Lucky Igbinedion

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may soon declare a former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, wanted over a fresh N25bn fraud allegedly linked to him.

It was gathered that a watch-list signal on him had been sent to all the country’s borders, which was a prelude to issuing an international arrest warrant to Interpol.

The ex-governor, who had earlier been convicted by the EFCC on abuse of public funds while in office from 1999 to 2007, was being accused of converting the state shares in Afribank worth $6.2m to his personal use.
According to an EFCC source, Igbinedion allegedly left the country after he got wind of the EFCC investigation in December 2010.

Charges against him will be filed at a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.
When contacted, the Head of EFCC Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed the development.
“The EFCC is looking for Chief Lucky Igbinedion and will explore all lawful options to ensure that all wanted persons are brought before the law,” he said.

A similar case, which involved a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, had forced him to flee the country and landed in Dubai where he was tried for money laundering offences, for which London Metropolitan police wanted him extradited to UK.

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