The Federal High Court in Benin ordered that the Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Chief Dan Orbih, be remanded in prison custody if he failed to perfect his bail.
The court had on Thursday granted Orbih and Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the 2016 governorship candidate, bail in the sum of N10 million for alleged N700 million fraud.
Also granted bail in the same condition, were the former deputy governor, Mr Lucky Imasuen, a former member of the House of Representatives, Tony Azegnemi and Efe Anthony.
Justice P. Adjokwu ordered the defendants to produce a surety each in like sum.
The judge ordered that the sureties, who must not be below salary grade level 16, must also be house owners, with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) that should be deposited with the court’s deputy registrar.
Adjokwu, who rejected the plea by defendants’ counsel, Mr Charles Edosomwan, ordered them to be remanded in prison until they met the bail conditions.
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The judge adjourned the case till July 4.
EFCC had arraigned the defendants on an eight-count charge of laundering the sum of N700 million.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants were arraigned for receiving N700 million prior to the 2015 general elections, from former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The money, it said, was part of the $115 million that Diezani allegedly pilfered from the treasury.
He said the offence contravened Section 15(2)(d)of the Money Laundering (Prohibited) Act 2011(as amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) punishable under section 15(3) of same Act.
(NAN)
