A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City has remanded Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Dan Orbih, a former Deputy Governor, Mr, Lucky Imasuen, a former member of the House of Representatives, Tony Azegbemi and Efe Anthony to prison custody.

They are to remain in prison pending when they meet their bail applications.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu and others were arraigned on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on eight count charges of laundering the sum of N700m.

Justice P.I Adjokwu remanded them to prison custody after rejecting a plea by Counsel to Ize-Iyamu, Charles Edosomwan that they be kept in the custody of the EFCC.

Meanwhile Protesters besieged the Federal High Court in Benin City to demand unconditional release of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party who were arraigned for allegedly laundering the sum of N700m.

They carried Placards with various inscriptions which reads : “Nigeria belongs to us all”, “Free Ize-Iyamu”, “EFCC release Pastor Ize-Iyamu”and “No gentleman in corruption.”

In the suit, former Chairman, Board of Trustee of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih was listed as being at large.

The suspects were arraigned on an eight-count charge of money laundering.

They however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Counsel to the suspects, Charles Edosomwan (Ize-Iyamu) Dr. O.G Izevbuwa (Imasuen) Kehinde Ogunsumi (Azegbemi) Ferdinand Orbih (Dan Orbih) and Prof. Jim Akhere Akhere in their bail applications pleaded that their clients be granted bail on self recognisance.

They urged the court to grant their clients bail on a liberal and non-stringent condition because they willingly submitted themselves to the EFCC.

The Counsel said their clients were known members of their communities and would not jump bail.

They also argued that their clients have been in EFCC custody for 11 days.

But the EFCC Counsel, Larry Peters Aso, argued that the bio-data of the suspects have not been captured and urged the Judge to direct stringent bail condition and money to ensure the defendants are in court.

The presiding Judge, Justice P.I Adjokwu, in her ruling said she exercised her discretion to grant them bail.

Justice Adjokwu granted bail to the five accused persons in N10m each and a surety in like sum who must be a public servant in the rank of level 16 and above.

The sureties. according to the Judge, are to deposite the C.of O of their building with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

Edosomwan however pleaded that the accused persons be remanded to the EFCC custody pending when the bail conditions are met but Justice Adjokwu said it was beyond her powers.

Justice Adjokwu therefore remanded them to prison custody pending when they meet their bail conditions and adjourned sitting to July 4th, 2018.

As at press time, supporters of the PDP were still at the court waiting for the bail conditions to be perfected.

SOURCE: http://thebellng.com/breaking-court-sends-ize-iyamu-orbih-others-to-prison/

Photo 1 - Dan Orbih

Photo 2 - Osagie Ize-Iyamu