Posted by From PETRUS OBI, Enugu on
An Enugu Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Olayinka Faji, on Monday reviewed the bail conditions attached to the bail granted former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Iginedion which caused the governor to remain in custody a week after.
An Enugu Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Olayinka Faji, on Monday reviewed the bail conditions attached to the bail granted former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Iginedion which caused the governor to remain in custody a week after.
The court decided to wave aside the condition mandating Igbinedion to produce two serving permanent secretaries, following an application of the counsels to Chief Igbinedion, led by Abdulahi Ibrahim, praying the court to review the 16 conditions.
The presiding judge, Justice Faji, however, said that the two sureties must be persons with landed properties within the jurisdiction of the Federal Court, Enugu that included Enugu, Anambra States and Edo, the home state of the applicant.
The bail is still in the sum of N10 million for the former governor and another N10 million each for two sureties.
The sureties, in addition, will be ready and willing to report to the court whenever they are requested to do so.
Chief Igbinedion would, however, deposit his international passport and give a comprehensive list of his residences both in Nigeria and Abroad, and is expected to continue to report to the EFCC, Enugu fortnightly on every first Friday of each month while the case lasts.
The case was therefore, adjourned to Monday 25, for further hearing of the substantive suit.
The former governor had remained a guest of the EFCC, even after he was granted bail a week ago for failure to meet the bail conditions.
Part of the conditions was that Igbinedion would deposit his international passport with the EFCC, and will not travel out of the country without the order of the court.
In addition, the two permanent secretaries, who will stand as sureties to the former governor will also not travel out of the country. The suspect will equally be reporting to the EFCC every first Friday fortnightly.
Justice Faji, who also ruled that the order of the court would have to be served to the Head of Service and Comptroller of Immigration for their information and compliance, said that the sureties must be credible people.
The former governor must also be ready to submit himself anytime he is needed in the court. Igbinedion and his two sureties will also be required to provide two recent passport photographs, in addition to making available to the EFCC their three years tax clearance.
Chief Igbinedion, who was not present at court on Monday was, as at the time of filing this report, still being detained by the EFCC, as the court had to verify the claims of the accused.