The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
have arraigned the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2016 governorship
candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and the state Chairman of the party, Chief
Dan Orbih, before a Federal High Court in Benin for money laundry.
Also charged were former state Deputy Governor, Mr.
Lucky Imasuen; former member representing Esan South East and Esan North East federal
constituency in the House of Representatives, Tony Azigbemi, and one Efe
Erimuoghae Anthony.
While Ize-Iyamu and Orbih were absent in court but
were represented by their counsel, the three others were present in court.
The five are facing an eight-count charge of
conspiracy with themselves to commit money laundry to the tune of N700 million,
an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act
2011 as amended which is punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.
The anti-crime agency said it may re-arrest Ize-Iyamu
since he was not in court to be arraigned along others over alleged money
laundering charges.
EFCC said it would get in touch with Ize-Iyamu's
surety on the administrative bail and make effort to re-arrest him.
Counsel to the EFCC, L.P. Aso, who spoke Wednesday
in Benin-city when the three other persons were arraigned before a Federal High
Court for allegedly laundering the sum of N700 million, also said the former
Chairman, Board of Trustee (PDP) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, was listed in
the charges but was said to be at large.
The absence of Ize-Iyamu and Orbih stalled the arraignment
as the EFCC counsel told the court that it was the duty of the commission to
produce the accused persons and not for the accused persons to bring themselves
to court.
Aso informed the court that all the accused persons
had filed application for bail and asked for the court to adjourn to enable the
EFCC produce all the defendants in court.
In the charges preferred against Ize-Iyamu and
others, the EFCC accused them of taking possession and control of the sum of
N700million without any contract award which they ought to know the money from
part of an unlawful act.
They were alleged to have made cash payment of
N60,650,000 to one Henry Tenebe of Estako West Local Government Area and
N61,647,000 to one Momoh Andrew Ojo of Akoko-Edo without going through a
financial institution.
In count five, six and seven, they were alleged to
have made cash payment of N83,473,000, N125,993,000 and N105,000,000 to Deacon
Ezekiel Egharevba, Thomas Aroko and Scott Osagiede respectively without going
through a financial institution.
Counsel to Ize-Iyamu and Orbih, Ikide Chiehelua and
Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) told the court their clients travelled outside the
country.
They, however, promised that their clients were
prepared to face trials and would be back by next Tuesday.
Ferdinand Orbih said: "I have his instruction
that he will be back to answer to the charges. He is ready and willing to
defend himself. His absence is not borne out of disrespect for the court. He
was not served about the arraignment. He only heard about it and he instructed
me to appear for him."
Consequently, Justice P. I. Adjokwu adjourned the
case to June 11.
The count charges read as follows: "That you
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, Tony Azigbemi, Chief Dan Orbih, Efe
Erimuoghae Anthony and Chief Tony Anenih (now at large) sometime in March 2015
in Benin-city within the jurisdiction of this court did directly take
possession and control of the sum of N700 million only without any contract
award which sum you reasonably ought to have form part of proceeds of a
unlawful act to with, fraud and corruption, and thereby committing an offence
contrary to section 15(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as
amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act 2012) and
punishable under section 15(3) of same Act.
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