December 5, 2013 • By Our Reporter
FROM GEORGE ONYEJIUWA, Owerri

Imo State Governor, Owelle  Rochas Okorocha, has described the purported clearance of his impeached Deputy, Sir Jude Agbaso, by the Economic and Financial crimes  Commission (EFCC) over alleged N458 million bribe as mischievous and self-serving. He accused the EFCC of doing nothing over the state government’s request to investigate  the missing N67 billion allegedly misappropriated by the administration of former governor Ikedi Ohakim.

The EFCC had written a letter to Agbaso in response to his request for investigation into the alleged N458 million bribery scam, on which he was impeached as deputy governor, clearing him of the allegation.

The anti-graft agency had stated that no document or written statement linked Agbaso to any bribe.

Speaking at a media briefing in Owerri, Governor Okorocha noted that the EFCC does not have the powers to clear anybody, saying it was the responsibility of the court to do so.

“I have not heard that the EFCC now has the power to clear anybody of gross misconduct, as the only institution vested with such authority to clear Jude Agbaso of misconduct is the court of law and not the EFCC,” he stated.

Okorocha stated that the EFCC had hurriedly whisked away JBros boss, a day to his appearance before the investigative panel, adding that ever since he had not been brought back to the state to answer to the charges of fraud filed against him at the High Court by the state government.

“We did not award any contract to Jude Agbaso but to JBros and we want the EFCC to bring him back from wherever they are hiding him,” he said.

Okorocha accused the EFCC of compromising in its duties by its refusal to investigate  N67 billion allegedly misappropriated by the administration of former governor Ohakim

“We reported to the EFCC about the missing N67 billion, which was misappropriated by the administration of Ikedi Ohakim, but as I speak to you, neither the EFCC nor the ICPC has done anything about the matter. It seems that those who have connections with the Presidency cannot be probed by the EFCC or the ICPC and that is why they have kept mute. Unfortunately, the same anti-graft agencies that has refused to probe the looting of the state treasury by the government of Ohakim has been harassing the officials of my government on continuous basis; so we decided to take our case to the court of public opinion, as our only option, since we do not have control over them.”

The Imo State governor accused the EFCC and the ICPC of being a tool of political witch-hunt against perceived opponent of the Presidency, adding that the state had been left with no other option but to establish its own anti-graft agency to enable it tackle the cases of official corruption in the state.

“Since it is obvious that the EFCC  is now a tool of political witch-hunt against perceived opposition to the presidency, we have already concluded plans to establish our own anti-graft agency, which will be known as the Imo Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to help us tackle the problem of official fraud in the state.”

Meanwhile, efforts to get the reactions of the members of the state House of Assembly on Agbaso’s clearance by the EFCC were unsuccessful, as most of the members declined to comment on the matter.

 http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/n458m-bribe-okorocha-faults-efcc-clearance-agbaso/

Hiaa, if EFCC had found Agbaso guilty, Okorocha would be hailing them for doing a proper job. But now that Agbaso is cleared EFCC is not performing. Okay ooo..

Okorocha has pulled down a house that will definitely come down on him. Rochas the Ingrate!

EFCC and political witch hunting. They are crazier than I thought!

Owelle,chiri gaba! Nothing do you!

Hundreds of Millions, Tens of Billion
Small money now.

berem: EFCC and political witch hunting. They are crazier than I thought!

Owelle,chiri gaba! Nothing do you!

2015 is around the corner, we`ll see how far he will go !
Martin Agbaso is waiting to reclaim the APGA mandate in Imo state, Rochas goofed and that big time.

.

Alleged N458m bribe: Jude Agbaso is innocent – EFCC
Posted by Assumpta Press on Saturday, December 7, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

The controversial impeachment of the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Sir Jude Ikechukwu Agbaso early this year for allegedly receiving N458 million bribe from the Managing Director of JPROS International Nig Ltd, Mr. Joseph Dina may have been conjured up.
Nine months after the controversial impeachment, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a thorough investigation has declared that Sir Agbaso is innocent of the allegation after all.
Agbaso was hurriedly impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly in February this year following the decision of a seven-man probe panel inaugurated by the State Chief Judge, Justice Benjamin Njemanze.
He was accused of demanding and receiving a bribe of N458 million from JPROS which was awarded a contract by the Imo State Government for the construction of Warehouse/Orlu Road Junction, Odunze Street, Aba Road and Old Nekede Road all within Owerri metropolis.
The Deputy Governor who also doubled as Commissioner for Works denied the allegation and made a formal request to the EFCC in March, requesting the commission to investigate the road contracts awarded at the sum of N1.5 billion  to JPROS and the purported bribe  Joseph Dina gave him as the then Deputy Governor and Commissioner of Works. After nine months of investigation, EFCC  has finally cleared Sir Agbaso.
In a letter dated November 27, 2013 and addressed to Sir Jude Agbaso, the Commission said there was no evidence to suggest that you (Sir Agbaso) benefited from the contract.
The letter signed by Olaolu Adegbite, MFR, Director of Operations, said Joseph Dina admitted to the anti-graft agency that he never gave any money to Sir Agbaso.
EFCC said that following its findings, it may take legal actions to bring those involved in the allegation and road contracts to justice.
The letter titled: “Re-Formal Request For Investigation Of Mr. Joseph Dina of JPROS International Nigeria Ltd, a Construction Company located at No. 11 Umezuruike Street, Opposite Umezuruike Hospital, Owerri, Imo State” reads:
“We refer to your letter dated 21st March 2013 on the above subject and hereby provide our findings so far into the case.
“Road contracts for the sum of one and a half billion Naira awarded to JPROS International Nig. Ltd was alleged to have engendered fraudulent bribe payments of N458 million by the Managing Director of JPROS, one Joseph Dina to you as the then Deputy Governor and Commissioner  for Works.
“In furtherance of the investigation, evidence adduced from interview of key officials of Imo State Government and other important witnesses, as well as documents obtained from relevant financial institutions, confirmed that the sum of N1,305,000,000.00 was paid to JPROS to execute the Warehouse-Orlu Road Junction, Odunze Street, Aba Road and Old Nekede Road projects within Owerri metropolis before mobilization to the sites.
 
“The total sum of $5,538,830.00 USD was found to have been remitted to the personal accounts of Dina in Dubai and Lebanon.  There is no single evidence so far that suggested that you benefited from the funds.
“In his statement to the Commission on 28th March 2013, Dina revealed that he never gave any money to you or any other official of the State Government over the contract, which are yet to be fully executed as at the last visit of our officers in April 2013.
“The Commission’s legal department is working on the case file with a view to taking appropriate legal action, please.”
Reacting to the EFCC findings, Chief Martin Agbaso, elder brother to Sir Jude Agbaso said he received the news with mixed feelings. First, he was happy that his brother has been cleared of the alleged bribe-taking.
However, he was sad that “a man can sit down in his office with his bunch of crooks and set-up such a kangaroo process just to destroy a man who has not done anything.”
He said from day one, he knew that his brother was innocent of the allegation and had said at that time that he would do everything within his power to get to the crux of the matter, knowing that his brother, like any Agbaso, cannot steal.
The APGA strongman expressed regret that the Imo State Governor, allowed a Lebanese journeyman to run away with a whopping N1.3billion belonging to the people of Imo State.