The Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State has accused the state government of allegedly frustrating the party’s efforts to meet the bail conditions of its members standing trial at a Federal High Court in Benin.
A former governorship candidate of the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; the State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih; and two other chieftains of the party had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged money laundering.
Also arraigned on Thursday was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Lucky Imasuen.
The presiding judge, Justice P. I. Adjokwu, had granted them bail in the sum of N10m and two sureties each in like sum, who must be public servants not below level 16 and own property in Edo, with the certificates of occupancy deposited at the court.
But in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP alleged that the state government had refused to sign all documents for the bail “for obvious political differences.”
The statement read in part, “Acting on the instructions of Governor Godwin Obaseki, all the documents relating to the verification were locked up. This obvious action to deny us justice is malicious and an infantile and irresponsible political vendetta.
“As it is becoming obvious that they will not do the needful, they have elected to sign only that of Chief Lucky Imasuen because of his current membership of the APC. Lucky Imasuen has insisted that his (matter) cannot be separated from the rest of those charged with him.”
But Obaseki denied the allegation, adding that he was “too busy developing Edo” to be interested in the criminal prosecution of the PDP leaders.
The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said, “We are very aware that it is in the character of members of the PDP in Edo to live in denial and blame others when they confront the nemesis of their own actions.
“We, however, want to advise them that, for once, they should take responsibility for their actions and direct their energy towards soul searching and character reforms.”
A former governorship candidate of the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; the State Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih; and two other chieftains of the party had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged money laundering.
Also arraigned on Thursday was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Lucky Imasuen.
The presiding judge, Justice P. I. Adjokwu, had granted them bail in the sum of N10m and two sureties each in like sum, who must be public servants not below level 16 and own property in Edo, with the certificates of occupancy deposited at the court.
But in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP alleged that the state government had refused to sign all documents for the bail “for obvious political differences.”
The statement read in part, “Acting on the instructions of Governor Godwin Obaseki, all the documents relating to the verification were locked up. This obvious action to deny us justice is malicious and an infantile and irresponsible political vendetta.
“As it is becoming obvious that they will not do the needful, they have elected to sign only that of Chief Lucky Imasuen because of his current membership of the APC. Lucky Imasuen has insisted that his (matter) cannot be separated from the rest of those charged with him.”
But Obaseki denied the allegation, adding that he was “too busy developing Edo” to be interested in the criminal prosecution of the PDP leaders.
The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said, “We are very aware that it is in the character of members of the PDP in Edo to live in denial and blame others when they confront the nemesis of their own actions.
“We, however, want to advise them that, for once, they should take responsibility for their actions and direct their energy towards soul searching and character reforms.”
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