EFCC to Confiscate Lucky Igbinedion's Properties

Asset forfeiture has been granted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Federal High Court, Lagos, to seize properties of embattled former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, over an alleged N3.2billion scam. The EFCC, after as long legal battle has finally secured the order to seize all properties traced to Chief Igbinendion in Benin, Lagos, Abuja and London (11 choice properties) following the fresh money laundering case filed against him. Recall that Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court, Benin City, Edo State, had during the court sitting of February 8, 2011 directed that the former governor and six other accused persons be present in court on the next adjourned date or risk bench warrant. The former Edo state governor, Lucky is son of wealthy Benin palace chief, Nosakhare Igbinedion. He was convicted by a Federal High Court in Enugu in 2008, where he was fined N3.5 million on a one-count charge, after an initial 191 count charge of fraud, theft, embezzlement and money laundering. He was later declared wanted by the commission, following fresh discoveries of alleged diversion of Edo State government's Afribank shares valued at $6.2 million (N961million) and Access Bank Plc shares valued at $775, 000 (N120m) into his private pockets.