Posted by From GODWIN TSA AND ADA OJENUWAH, Abuja on
Former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, says he would be at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 21, 2008 to answer charges of corruption slammed against him.
Former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, says he would be at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 21, 2008 to answer charges of corruption slammed against him.
The EFCC had, after filling a 142-count charge against the former governor before a Federal High Court, also obtained a warrant of arrest against him.
The order dated January 9, 2008 and entitled 'Bench Warrant" empowered 'any police officer who sets his or her eyes on the former governor to arrest him."
But in a letter to the EFCC, the former governor, who said he felt embarrassed and scandalized by the action of the EFCC, including the publicity given to it by the media said the order was obtained in bad faith.
Igbinedion, who spoke through his counsel, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), said he was innocent of all the allegations.
Accordingly, he said he was making moves to return to Nigeria in order to make himself available to the EFCC and any court before which any charges may have been filed against him.
The statement reads in part: 'Our client feels rather embarrassed and scandalized at these publications. The commission is very much aware that our client has always honoured all invitations to meet with officials of the commission brought to his attention.
'You will recall that on June 13 and 14, 2007, while he was abroad, he was so invited and he cut his trip, returned to the country and presented himself at the offices of the commission. At the conclusion of the meeting, he informed the commission that he was travelling back abroad to which they had no objection.
'In the circumstances, our client feels that the surreptitious manner in which the said Bench warrant was obtained and the wide publicity given to it and the charges allegedly filed was done in bad faith at the very least. Our client does not want to believe that he is being subjected to trial by media and the commission.
'Our client is a responsible and reputable citizen of this great country. He is a former (two-term) governor of Edo State. He has always been ready and is even now willing and ready to present himself before any law enforcement agency and indeed the court of law to answer to any charges or allegations made against him.
'Pursuant to the above, our client is making moves to once again return to Nigeria in order to make himself available to the commission and any court of the land before which any charges may have been filed against him.
'We have all the instructions of our client to inform you that he will be returning to the country and will, on January 21, 2008, present himself at your office in demonstration of his preparedness to appear before any agency of government, court or tribunal to answer to any charges or allegations made against him.
'Finally, our client wishes to state that he is innocent of all the allegations which are being serialized in the Nigeria media and looks forward to demonstrating his innocence in the court of law."