Former governor of Edo State Chief Lucky Igbinedion has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) even as fresh charges are expected to be filed against him at a Federal High Court today.

This followed fresh discoveries that he fraudulently diverted Edo State Government's Afribank shares valued at $6.2 million (N961m) and government's Access Bank Plc shares valued at $775, 000 (N120m) amongst others for his personal use.

Already, a watch list signal has been sent round Nigerian borders on him.

A source in EFCC revealed that the decision to declare Igbinedion wanted is a prelude to issuing an international arrest warrant on him to enable Interpol track him down wherever he is hiding in the world.

Daily Trust gathered that the anti-graft commission opened fresh investigations into the activities of the former governor after it received a petition from an indigene of the state.

"The new investigations involve a whopping N25bn and Chief Lucky Igbinedion has refused to honour several invitations since December to answer to the charges," a source at the anti-graft agency told Daily Trust.

The ex governor is also accused of fraudulently diverting more than N300 million naira of Edo State Government funds which he allegedly used to purchase a Sheraton Hotel in GRA Benin City.

EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed that the agency had opened new investigations on Igbinedion and that the anti-graft agency would explore all lawful options to ensure that all wanted persons are brought before the law.

Igbinedion allegedly left the country last December.