EFCC to Arraign Shekarau, Ize-Iyamu, Imasuen, Others

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will thursday arraign the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shakarau, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Lucky Imasuen; and the state PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih; as well as Tony Azigbemi and Efe Erimuoghae Anthony before a Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.

The Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement yesterday, said the quintet were alleged to have conspired among themselves to commit an offence contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition ) Act.

Uwujaren said though the arraignment was earlier scheduled for May 16, the case was adjourned to May 24, 2018 for arraignment due to the absence of Ize-Iyamu and Orbih in court.

He stated that at the last court sitting, counsel to Orbih, Chief Ferdinard O. Orbih (SAN), told the court that his client was outside the shores of Nigeria attending to his health needs.
The same argument was canvassed by Ikhide Ehighelua, counsel to Pastor Ize-Iyamu who told the court that his client was outside the country attending to his health
He said the EFCC is seeking to prosecute the five top PDP members in Edo State over the N700 million they purportedly received prior to the 2015 general election.

Also, the EFCC has concluded arrangement to arraign a former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, alongside three others before a Federal High Court in Kano thursday.

Shekarau is being charged alongside, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali and one Mansur Ahmed for allegedly conniving to collect the cash sum of N950 million part of the $115 million distributed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deizani Allison-Madueke for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the 2015 general election.

Uwujaren in another statement yesterday, further alleged that the defendants distributed the money without going through a financial institution in clear violation of provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

Uwujaren said the defendants are currently being detained at the Commission‘s Kano Zonal Office awaiting their arraignment tomorrow.