N700m fraud case: Dan Orbih, others fret as court hearing date nears

…as Orbih reaches out to APC chieftains for soft landing

As months give way to weeks, before the next court date in the N700 million money laundering case involving the Chairman of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, it was gathered that the Edo PDP chairman has been making frantic effort to plead with chieftains of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) to intervene.

One of the Edo APC chieftains, who would not want his name mentioned, said “He has approached some members of the Edo State APC to intercede for him and I have personally told him off and advised him to brace up for the outcome of the court case.

“I have told him that the Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature under the APC government and no individual can help him.

“Forget all the noise he is making and all the showmanship. He is distraught and really troubled by the court case hanging on his neck. But I am not the judge or the court or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.)

“Though we are from the same part of the state, but what really can I do? There is no where in the constitution that says that your village man can help you in a money laundering case. It is not a case of two family members quarrelling over community funds or village money. It is a case between Chief Orbih and the EFCC.”

Another APC chieftain who also pleaded anonymity, said Chief Orbih had taken his pleas to top APC leaders in Abuja.

“We have received reports of his fears over the money laundering case. Chief Orbih confided in me that his fears heightened when some former governors were recently sent to jail by the courts over money laundering charge. He hinted that he thought the whole EFCC’s fight against corruption would fizzle out somehow.

“Chief Orbih is more worried because of his health challenge and he fears he may die in jail. I have suggested he enters a plea bargain if is sure his defence is weak.  I cannot really say more than this as the case in question is in court and would not want to pre-empt the outcome,” the APC chieftain said.

The Edo PDP chairman is facing an 8-count charge of laundering N700 million; fraud and corruption; an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.”