Justice Mohammed Liman of Federal High Court Benin, Edo State, has reserved judgment till January 30, 2015, in the alleged N25 billion money laundering and abuse of office charge brought against Micheal Igbinedion and Charles Eboigbodin by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Liman had fixed the date for judgment after the adoption of written addresses by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) for the prosecution and Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Ricky Tafa (SAN) and Richard Ahonaruogo (Esq.) for accused persons.
The accused persons, along with their companies – Gava Corporation Limited, Romrig Nigeria Limited, PML Securities Company Limited and PML Nigeria Limited – were arraigned by the anti-graft agency on an 81-count charge bordering on money laundering, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy and abuse of office.
While addressing the court, Jacobs anchored his argument on the testimonies of prosecution witnesses which, according to him, corroborated the charge, with emphasis on the several public funds deposited into private accounts, and how government funds were used to repay loans collected by former Governor Lucky Igbinedion while he was in office.
Jacobs then prayed the court to “accept the prosecution’s case as presented and convict the accused persons as charged”.
But before closing his address, the prosecuting counsel called the attention of the court to the inability of the bailiff to serve the summons earlier issued by it on the former Edo State governor, who failed to present himself in court, after the Appeal Court decision in April, asking him to return to the High Court for trial.
Jacobs disclosed that all efforts by the bailiff to serve the former governor with the summons proved abortive, as he was always turned back from the gate by security men who told him on all occasions that Igbinedion was out of town.
The EFCC counsel, therefore, prayed the court to permit a substituted service of summons on the last known address of Igbinedion.
“May I apply that the first accused person be served by allowing the prosecution pastes the notice at the known address,” he canvassed.
Commenting on the submission of prosecuting counsel, Justice Liman advised him to make an application. According to the judge, “the summons has expired; you can re-apply or ask for a substituted service, as there are other means of service. Prosecution must make another application.”