By peter uzoma
In response to plethora of petitions sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by some persons and groups seeking a further probe into the alleged N458m bribe money that led to the sack of the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Sir Jude Agabso, some persons would be charged to court for alleged acts contravening money laundering acts.
It would be recalled that based on the report of the Ad Hoc Committee set up by the Imo State House of Assembly which accused Agbaso of allegedly collecting bribe from Jpseph Dina of Jpros, the former Deputy Governor was impeached. Irked by the manner the assembly men underwent the impeachment despite Agbaso’s innocent pleas, the Agbasos alongside other aggrieved parties petitioned the EFCC, State Security Services, SSS, Nigerian Police and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, for further investigation.
The EFCC, which earlier arrested the man at the centre of the storm and Lebanese-born Joseph Dina had in the process of further investigation arrested and quizzed Imo State Finance Commissioner Deacon Chike Okafor, Accountant General, George Eche, but also has in its custody a co-shareholder in JPROS International Limited and Special Adviser to the State Governor on Project Monitoring, Prince Macdonald Akano as well as an in law to Governor Okorocha. Others who had appointment with EFCC after answering questions on their first day at the Commission headquarters in Abuja where members of the Ad Hoc committee comprising Honourables Simeon Iwunze, SamDaddy Anyanwu and Ikenna Emeh.
Preliminary investigation by the EFCC revealed that huge chunk of the money meant for the Warehouse-Orlu Road Junction, Odunze-Aba Road-Amaigbo Street to Old Nekede Road has been traced to Lebanon, the home country of Dina/
Reports have it that the anti-graft commission has recorded a major haul in the investigation of the contract scam by tracing the controversial contract money overseas and the money laundered into accounts linked to one or two government officials and their accomplices.
Further investigations by the EFCC also revealed that “due process was not followed and the contract value was paid to the contractor even before the commencement of the work”
A reliable source in EFCC reportedly told a national daily that “as a matter of fact, we have discovered some slush accounts in Lebanon where a part of the contract sum was lodged. This is a pure case of money laundering which we are already investigating. One of the accounts has been traced to a brother-in-law of a government functionary in the state. You can understand why the contractor is central to the on going probe of the N1bn. We will interact with more officials connected with the contract. Those who have no case to answer will be set free but others who abetted the alleged laundering of the contract scam will certainly face trial” the source added.
It was however gathered that since the huge sum of money has been traced to Lebanon, those who have been detained and are regular visitors to the commission in connection with the alleged money laundering will soon be charged to court for the offence. Apart from Dina, sources disclosed that an in law to the Governor (names withheld) who is facing EFCC interrogation concerning the matter, a shareholder and board member of Jpros as well as government appointee, Prince Akanno, Finance Commissioner, Okafor and Eche may be charged for the alleged violation of Money Laundering Act as the are only enjoying bail condition with a proviso to report to the commission when needed.
Meanwhile, a group by name SAVE IMO while exposing the arrest of the Governor’s allies has asked the EFCC to charge them to court. While praising EFCC’s efforts in the giant strides recorded so far by picking those allegedly involved in the contract scam, SAVE IMO in a message to Trumpeta revealed that efforts are in top gear to have them released and exonerated from the matter. It urged Imolites to demand for the return of the laundered money to Imo state coffers.
