The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has condemned the slap-on-the-wrist judgment handed Michael Igbinedion, a younger brother to former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, by a federal judge.
In a shocking ruling Thursday, Justice J. Liman of the Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State, fined N3 million for stealing N25 billion of public money.
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, said the judgement was another proof that Federal Government was protecting corrupt people.
“The Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke is not interested in prosecuting anybody. Several people have been indicted, nobody has been made to face the wrath of the law; and for those who were brought before the law, the cases were shoddily prosecuted to the extent that many of them didn’t get deterrent punishment. As a matter of fact, it is a long drawn story of protecting corrupt people,” he said.
“It is unfortunate this is happening in Nigeria despite the many reforms this administration claimed it has brought to our judicial system. This is an indication that the reforms are just charade. The judgment ridicules our judiciary and judicial system.”
The paltry fine against Michael, was a repeat of history, as a court had delivered a similar dubious judgement in favour of his elder brother seven years ago.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which brought the charges against Michael, the money was stolen from the Edo State treasury when his brother was governor of Edo State.
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