The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is at the risk of being arrested on Tuesday July 14, after being accused of laundering N700 million.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu may be arrested if he fails to appear before a Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State today to answer questions why he and his fellow suspects took possession of about N700 million without any contracts.
This is sequel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission informing a Federal High Court in Benin City about the crime.
Ize-Iyamu is alleged alongside his fellow suspects of taking about N700 million without executing the contracts for which the money was paid.
However, the court had on July 2 adjourned the matter to July 14 due to the absence of Ize-Iyamu, who was said to be indisposed.
The trial, it is said, had been delayed as a result of Ize-Iyamu’s absence, even as the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Garba, had earlier validated the charges against him.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is the first defendant in the suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016 filed by the EFCC, who accused the defendants of conspiring among themselves to commit the offence in March 2015, alleging that they took possession and control of the funds without any contract award.
The judge had rejected the oral request for a prolonged adjournment of the case by the counsel to Ize-Iyamu, who insisted that his client will not disobey the order of the court.
Justice Garba maintained that the last time somebody was here, he (the judge) made an order for the accused person to appear in court or face arrest.
The defendants include a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, Mr. Efe Erimuoghae-Anthony, and others, and are facing an eight-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N700 million meant to prosecute the 2015 general elections.
