The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made a move yesterday by arresting the former Imo State Governor, Governor Ikedi Ohakim about 8am at his residence 60, Kwame Nkrumah Crescent home in Asokoro District, Abuja for alleged mismanagement of state funds. Meanwhile, reports states that Lamido was loyal by reporting to the EFCC based on invitation. THE NATION has more:
Former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim was arrested yesterday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The agency quizzed former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
Ohakim was arrested about 8am at his 60, Kwame Nkrumah Crescent home in Asokoro District, Abuja.
But Lamido reported to the EFCC based on invitation.
The former governors were grilled for more than eight hours by a team of senior investigators.
It was learnt that the EFCC arrested Ohakim after he allegedly failed to honour the invitation to conclude an ongoing probe of his tenure. Ohakim was governor from 2007 to 2011.
An EFCC source said: “We have been inviting Ohakim for the conclusion of the investigation of the allegations against him but he always gave excuses.
“So, we decided to arrest him at his Abuja residence. He is undergoing interrogation in our Operations Unit.
“The first leg of the probe of Ohakim’s tenure began with the invitation of some of his commissioners and government officials for alleged mismanagement of state funds.
“We need to present some of the statements and evidence at our disposal to Ohakim to respond to.
“The allegation against Ohakim borders on some property in Abuja allegedly traced to him having been bought while in office.”
Concerning Lamido, it was gathered that he was quizzed on a N1.3b contract awarded while he was in office and the favouring of some of his children with mouth-watering projects.
He was also questioned on the money laundering allegations against some of his children.
“Allegations against Lamido have to do with alleged mismanagement of funds, money laundering and abuse of office.
“We are looking into the accounts of all the companies where Lamido has some stake.”
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity Wilson Uwujaren said: “I confirm the arrest of Ohakim and the appearance of Lamido before our team.”
But in a statement by his Special Assistant Emmanuel Dike yesterday, Ohakim denied evading arrest.
The statement said: “The attention of His Excellency, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, has been drawn to media reports to the effect that he was evading an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in connection with a recent petition against him by a group that goes by the name, Alliance for Good Governance. Dr. Ohakim wishes to state that there is no iota of truth in the reports because he had formally communicated his inability to honour the agency’s invitation to it, attributing the misinformation to bridge in communication.
“Dr. Ohakim got wind of the invitation while he was away on a medical trip in the United Kingdom and upon return to the country, wrote the agency to explain why he could not meet their earlier date. For reasons that are not immediately known, however, the agency did not reply this letter.
“On Wednesday June 17, Dr. Ohakim again wrote to the Commission seeking for a new date in July on medical grounds. The letter was duly acknowledge by the agency the same day but to his greatest surprise, officials of the agency stormed his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, the following morning Thursday, June 18, 2015, with press photographers and television camera men.
“Dr. Ohakim wishes to state that he has no reason, whatsoever, to evade the agency because he is not only a law-abiding senior citizen of Nigeria but also has no skeleton in his cupboard, having been investigated before by the commission on the same issue and that he is quite confident that nothing incriminating will be found against him this time around.”
