EFCC arrests ex-Edo governor Lucky Igbinedion over N1.6bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, over fresh allegations of corruption.

This is coming about 14 years after Igbinedion had left office as the state governor.

He was prosecuted by the EFCC and the court found guilty in 2008. The court asked him to pay back a paltry sum to the government.

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.

Spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren,  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.

He had pleaded guilty to one count of corruption in a plea bargain at a Federal High Court in Enugu, having been charged in January 2008 with embezzling N2.9 billion ($21.33 million.

Igbinedion was ordered to also refund about N500 million and forfeit three properties, including one in Abuja.