The Federal High Court sitting in Benin yesterday sentenced Michael Igbinedion, son of Gabriel Igbinedion and Esama of Benin, to six years imprisonment over laundering of N25 billion belonging to Edo State Government.
The court also sentenced Patrick Eboigbodin, an aide to former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, to two years jail on each of the 10 counts he was found guilty, bringing the sentence to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
He is, however, to serve two years in jail as the sentences are to run concurrently.
Michael Igbinedion was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the three counts he was found guilty, but the jail terms are to run concurrently.
He was, however, given an option of N3 million fine.
PML Nigeria Limited, one of the companies allegedly used by the convicts to launder the funds and 6th accused in the suit, was ordered to pay N10 million, having been fined N1,000,000 on each of the 10 counts it was found guilty.
Besides, the company was ordered to fold up and forfeit all its assets to the Federal Government.
The case of money laundering was instituted against the convicts, Michael Igbinedion, Patrick Eboigbodin, Gava Corporation, Romring Nigeria Limited, PML Securities and PML Nigeria Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They were arraigned on 81-count charge bordering on money laundering. The offences were committed between 1999 and 2007 when Lucky Igbinedion was the governor of the state.
Michael Igbinedion was convicted on three counts bordering on collecting cash payment above N500,000, while a 10 count charge, bordering on collaboration to conceal the origin of funds amounting to millions of naira paid into their private accounts was preferred against Patrick and PML (Nigeria) Limited.
The trial judge, Justice Abubakar Liman, while delivering the judgment, said the prosecution proved the charge of collaboration against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
He, however, discharged all the convicts on other counts because the prosecution failed to prove the allegations.
He said the prosecution only proved suspicion and failed to prove illicit origin of funds deposited in some banks.
