Edo Rep docked over alleged forgery

 

 Activities of government officials were on Thursday temporarily put on hold in Edo State Government House and some ministries, as political office holders stormed Benin High Court over the arraignment of the member of the House of Representatives, representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Hon. Philip Shaibu.

Source reports that Hon. Shaibu, who is the immediate past Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, was re-arraigned in court following a warrant of arrest issued on him last week Thursday over his failure to appear in court by Justice Esohe Ikponmwen of the Benin High Court.

The lawmaker is being arraigned in court on six count charge by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged forgery of tax document in 2006.  

 

The state deputy governor, Pius Odubu led the pack of government’s officials, who came to court. Others are Osarodion Ogie, Commissioner for Works; Isimemen Iriogbe, Commissioner for Transport; Washington Osifo, Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources; Jemitola Aanena, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and Macdonald Obasuki, Commissioner for Arts and Culture.

When the six count charge were formally read before the accused, after the court had set aside the warrant of arrest order, the accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Ikponmwen, however, granted the accused bail in the sum of N3 million and a surety who must be resident in Benin-City and gainfully employed.

The bail was sequence to an application by Ken Mozia (SAN), counsel to the accused and which was not opposed to by Godsson Igbadumhe, counsel to ICPC.
The case was however, adjoined to February 15 to 16 for further hearing.