Igbinedion deserted; Fails to meet bail condition, May spend weekend in prison - Rejects food in prison

Jude Ossai, Enugu - 15.02.2008

FORMER Edo State governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, may have been deserted by his friends as efforts to bail him out of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody by his family members and associates have not produced the desired results.

It was also gathered that he had decided to shun the food served him. Nigerian Tribune gathered that Chief Igbinedion turned down the breakfast served him on Thursday in the Enugu office of the EFCC and literally wept when he was told by one of his aides that even with the intervention of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the chances of meeting his 16 bail conditions by the Federal High Court, Enugu were not bright.

It was learnt that the ex-governor was not happy with the development, which had extended his stay in custody, stressing that he could not fathom the reason for his family members’ inability to bail him out.

It was also gathered that he might spend another weekend in custody. An impeccable source revealed that Chief Igbinedion banged the table thrice and told the aide to go back to Benin City and search for two permanent secretaries as well as meet the other 15 conditions.

The former governor was said to have complained about having nightmares since the trial began, especially when Justice Olayinka Faji of the Enugu Federal High Court gave stringent conditions for his bail a week ago.

When contacted, no official of the anti-graft body was ready comment on the decision by the former governor to refuse food. Chief Igbinedion was arraigned on a 147-count charge which included money laundering.

The former governor allegedly used three companies to loot the state treasury. When Igbinedion appeared before the court, his lead counsel, Abdulahi Ibrahim (SAN), prayed the court to grant him bail on the grounds that “he is a responsible man who willingly submitted himself to the anti-graft commission.”

Last Monday, the ex-governor could not meet the conditions for his bail and continued to be remanded in the EFCC custody. The bail is in the sum of N10 million for the former governor and another N10 million each for two sureties who must be federal permanent secretaries and who are not due for retirement in the next three years.

The permanent secretaries must also be introduced to the court by the Head of Service of the Federation as well as show evidence of payment income tax in the last three years.

The sureties, in addition, will be ready to report to the court whenever they are requested to do so.