The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two
officials of Imo State Government over alleged case of fraud running
into billions of naira. The two state officials are the state
Commissioner of Finance, Deacon Okafor Chike John and the
Accountant-General of the state, Eche Ezenna George.
Although details of their arrest were yet to be fully grasped, Daily
Sun gathered that their arrest was sequel to a petition against them and
the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha over alleged illegal bank
transactions. They were said to have been picked up in Owerri, the Imo
State capital and flown to Abuja for further interrogation by EFCC
operatives. Daily Sun further gathered that Governor Okorocha would also
have been arrested but for his constitutional immunity from arrest,
which he presently enjoys. Last year, the sacked chairmen of the 27
local governments in Imo State had told the EFCC that Okorocha
misappropriated funds from a N13.5 billion bond raised by his
predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) also alleged
that since June 2011, the Joint Accounts Committee in Imo State had not
functioned and all statutory allocations due to the local governments
totaling over N80 billion had been misappropriated by Okorocha.
Following the ALGON petition, among others, operatives of the EFCC
visited Imo in October and commenced probes into the operations of the
state joint account with the local government as well as the financial
records of the state under former governor Ikedi Ohakim.
When contacted on phone, the spokesperson of EFCC, Mr. Wilson
Uwujaren confirmed their arrest but did not give details. He said: “The
officials have been arrested and it is possible that they are being
detained here in Abuja. But I don’t have the details.” It was recently
reported by some national dailies that Okorocha and his Delta State
counterpart were among the 12 governors being investigated by EFCC and
the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for massive fraud and
misappropriation.
The discreet investigations were said to have commenced after the
anti-graft agencies received several petitions against the 12 governors.
While the EFCC is investigating eight governors, the ICPC is probing
four. Most of the petitions were said to have been received after the
said governors had celebrated their first year in office.
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