Ex-Edo SSG Remanded In Prison Over Diversion Of Education Funds

A Benin High Court, presided over by Justice Esther Edigin has ordered that the immediate past Secretary to Edo State government Dr Simon Imuekemhe, and three others be remanded in prison custody over alleged financial fraud.
The accused persons,Imuekemhe, Joseph Emoabino, Aghator Efe and Davidi Igbinoba, are facing trial on eight count charges of diversion of fund among others.
The ex-Edo state government scribe, had allegedly conspired with the three others to divert a total sum of N113m, being the state Universal Basic Education UBE fund.
They are currently been tried by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on the offence which they allegedly committed on June 5, 2012 when Emoabino was the states UBE chairman, Igbinoba the secretary and Efe, Director of finance and accounts.
Meanwhile, the four accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when the case came up for hearing on Monday.
Mr. Omoruyi Omonuwa, Counsel to Imuekemhe, had filed an application for the accused to be granted bail.
Omonuwa’s bail application was however opposed by counsel to EFCC, Mr.  Larry Aso.
The EFCC lawyer, argued that he was opposing to the application on the ground that the four accused had been on administrative bail since when the matter was supposed to come up in court in February 26.
Ruling on the request by the accused lawyer, Justice Esther Edigin turned down the bail application on the ground that the administrative bail has elapsed since the matter was now before the court.
She said “I cannot grant bail when the bail application has not been heard,” she stated.

The Judge therefore, ordered that the four accused be remanded in prison custody until March 14 when the bail application will come up for hearing.