The alleged bribery and corruption charges leveled against the state Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso has taken a new dimension, as the embattled deputy governor has gone to the high court in suit No HOW/174/013 to challenge the infringement on his fundamental human right of fair hearing by the Imo State House of Assembly and its Ad hoc committee. He also challenged the competency of the House on the alleged investigation and prosecution in bribery and corruption related charges brought against him rather than have recourse to the appropriate agencies like Police, EFCC, ICPC.
The counsel to the Deputy Governor, Barr. P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN) had approached the court with an experte application to restrain the IMHA from going on with the impeachment process as he argued that the investigation of the House Ad hoc committee is incompetent, unconstitutional therefore null avoid.
Chief Niyi Akintola representing the 1st to 8th respondents (IMHA) filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court on the matter and argued that the motion should be heard before the experte application.
After listening to the fireworks from the two Senior Advocates, the judge, Hon Justice Florence Duruohaigwe ruled on the preliminary issues as she struck out the preliminary objections by the respondent counsel countering the applicant’s experte application. On the issue of restraining the IMHA from continuing with the impeachment process. The judge said thus “the state Chief Judge is a high ranking officer in the judiciary as to know the meaning of sub-judice.
On the argument of the two counsels, the presiding judge however adjourned the matter to the 27th of March, 2013 for continuation on the substantive matter.
As the stage is set for the final showdown on the impeachment brouhaha hanging on the Deputy Governor of Imo state, Sir Jude Agbaso, the embattled number two citizen of the state has continued to claim innocent of the allegation of fraud leveled against him.
While declaring that he never took any bribe from Joseph Dina of JPross International Ltd, a construction firm handling road project in Imo, Sir Agbaso noted that he has asked for his call log from MTN, to determine phone transactions between him and the so-called JPross boss, Dina.
According to Agbaso, “I never took any dime from Joseph Dina of JPross. There must be enough prove to declare me guilty. Therefore, I have applied for my MTN call log. I have informed and written the Director of SSS for that purpose. I want to get my call log to know if they said that I used my phone to text the account numbers to JPross for the payment, my MTN call log will show it”.
Explaining further on the bribery scandal, Agbaso said that there was no reason for him to demand bribe from JPross when he neither awarded the contract to him nor gave the approval for 100% payment without necessary verifications and papers.
“I was not the one who gave JPross the contract and did not make the approval for full payment. I got to know that full payment has been made months after. So how could I have demanded for price? For what purpose? And why would JPross oblige and pay me?”
On the premise that the N458m is meant to secure more LGA contracts for JPross, Agbaso had these to say “I have clearly stated and has washed my hands off local government road contracts and jobs. Even inside my LGA while in common sense and questionable honesty will a man who for nothing will out of his N1.5bn give me N458m. The contract was approved by the Governor and he also approved the payment by causing the principal secretary via a letter to convey the directive of the Governor for payment which was minuted to finance commissioner to pay N1.5b to JPross via Ministry of Works and copied to Accountant General for action and minuted to my Perm Sec to pay accordingly which means all necessary processes to be applied for payment.
On the gift of Special Blue Label Whisky drink, the Deputy accepted taking the drink but no strings attached as there was no reason for receiving graft from JPross when contracts have been awarded and amount fully paid. When he was not available, we started reaching him on phone. He was abroad and promised to reach me when he comes back. When we came back he claimed he traveled out of the country and even said he bought me a bottle of Blue Label Whisky that he doesn’t have it, he will bring it later in the evening to my house and asked me my house which I described. He came with a bloody blue label whisky. I don’t look like a beggar. At most, how much is it, highest $130. But meanwhile when he brought this whisky the contract has been consummated and he has been fully paid. It has nothing to do with the contract for which he was brought from wherever to complete his contract. Does it sound reasonable by any standard that I am taking a blue label whisky for a contract worth over N1bn?
“On the basis of all, they spread rumour that I have resigned, they threatened me forced and tried to coerce me into resignation, I said no. I have a right. I have done nothing; I am a known person in the society. I have built industries and done things in Imo. I am not a foreigner. I didn’t come to office with cap in hand begging for things to accept bribe. I have gone extra mile to serve the people of the state, kept the oath of office, worked with the Governor in absolute harmony and good brother bond that no man in my position would have exhibited. I served the Governor to the point that if I finish my beat, I go to him, waits for him until he finishes before I will say goodnight Sir and go home”.
Despite his travails, the Deputy Governor said that he has no animosity over the state Governor. “I continue to pledge my loyalty and allegiance to the Governor. My desire is that the truth must be told”, Agbaso added.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Imo State Chapter, has said that the imbroglio between the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his Deputy Sir Jude Agbaso, over N458 contract scam has vindicated the party’s earlier warning that Okorocha was in office to loot Imo State dry, pointing out that the development has disgraced Imo state in the comity states.
In a release signed by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, the party said that it was unfortunate that a party which said it was on a rescue mission could rip the state off to the tune of N580m.
PDP said that when it invited EFCC to the state to investigate Okorocha, he shouted foul, adding that it was shocking that even before EFCC goes to work, Imo people have been shocked with a monumental fraud never witnessed in the annals of the state.
“Mr Jude Agbaso may be the villain today but his personal travail is the fact that taken together, the entire administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha is rotten from the head to the tail” Amajirionwu wrote.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Imo State Chapter, has said that the imbroglio between the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his Deputy Sir Jude Agbaso, over N458 contract scam has vindicated the party’s earlier warning that Okorocha was in office to loot Imo State dry; pointing out that the development has disgraced Imo state in the comity states.
In a release signed by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, the party said that it was unfortunate that a party which said it was on a rescue mission could rip the state off to the tune of N580m.
PDP said that when it invited EFCC to the state to investigate Okorocha, he shouted foul, adding that it was shocking that even before EFCC goes to work, Imo people have been shocked with a monumental fraud never witnessed in the annals of the state.
“Mr Jude Agbaso may be the villain today but his personal travail is the fact that taken together, the entire administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha is rotten from the head to the tail” Amajirionwu wrote.
“It is very unfortunate that all these elected officers from the PDP and top appointees have abandoned the Council Chairmen, except for about two who have been rendering support”. A top PDP Exco member told this Newspaper.
