Chief Lucky Igbinedion, former governor of Edo State has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
He was arrested on Thursday for alleged criminal diversion of N1.6 billion, the funds belonging to the state during his tenure as a governor.
The ex-governor is being interrogated by detectives at the EFCC’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, a source revealed.
According to the source, the ex-governor reportedly arrived at the commission’s headquarters around 2 p.m. and was still under query as of the time of reporting this story.
Immediately after his tenure as governor in 2007, Mr. Igbinedion was indicted by the EFCC and found guilty of corruption.
Meanwhile, the new investigation, according to sources is based on new evidence that the former governor diverted a loan obtained by the Edo State government to resolve the financial indebtedness of a company in which he was said to have an interest.
According to Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesperson for the commission confirmed the invitation of the former governor but declined further comment.
Mr. Igbinedion, the former governor of Edo State from 1999 to 2007, was previously convicted for embezzling N2.9 billion being owned by the state in December 2008.
Following a plea bargain agreement he entered into with the EFCC, the 191 charges were reduced to only one count to which Mr. Igbinedion claimed guilty.
In exchange for his guilty plea, the Federal High Court in Enugu passed a sentence on him to six months’ imprisonment with an option of an N3.5 million fine.
The judge, Abdu Kafarati, now deceased also ruled the forfeiture of the N500 million, and three properties, including one in Abuja, seized from him.
EFCC had in response to the ruling expressed its disappointment with the option of fine given to him.
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