EFCC again arrests Lucky Igbinedion, former Edo Gov. for N1.6bn fraud

Former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, has again been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, fourteen years after leaving office to answer fresh allegations of corruption. It will be recalled that Lucky Igbinedion was prosecuted by the EFCC and found guilty by a competent court in 2008. He was at the time asked to pay back a paltry sum to the government, which was considered a slap on the wrist. The EFCC had vowed to appeal the judgment but it never did.

Thirteen years later, operatives of the Commission have invited Igbinedion in respect of a fresh corruption allegation. He was reported to be answering questions over what a source described as alleged criminal diversion of public funds to the tune of N1.6bn. The former governor who arrived at the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi, Abuja about 2pm on Thursday, November 11, 2021 was still being interrogated as at the time of filing this report. The fresh investigation is said to be based on fresh evidence that the former governor diverted a loan obtained by the Edo State Government to finance an investment during his tenure, in settling the financial indebtedness of a company in which he has interest.

Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson of the EFCC, who confirmed the invitation of the former governor, declined further comments. On Friday, December 19, 2008, a court fined Igbinedion N3.5 million ($25,754) for corruption which he paid as an alternative to serving six months in jail. Igbinedion, who was charged in January 2008 with embezzling N2.9 billion, pleaded guilty to one count of corruption in a plea bargain at a Federal High Court in the southeastern city of Enugu He was ordered to also refund about 500 million and forfeit three properties, including one in the capital Abuja, presiding Judge A. Abdu-Kafarati said.

The sentence had angered the anti-graft Commission. The agency said it would appeal against the ruling. “We are quarrelling with the option of a fine. Such options would not serve as a deterrent to others who might want to commit such crimes,” EFCC spokesperson then, Femi Babafemi, had said.