Embattled Deputy Imo State Governor, Mr. Jude Agbaso, has dismissed as inconsequential, efforts by the State Assembly to impeach him, saying it violated due process and has challenged the lawmakers to invite law enforcement agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allegation of N458 million bribe leveled against him by one of the contractors handling some road projects in the state.
“How could you (Imo State House of Assembly) indict me without following due process? Did the police investigate me or indict me? Did the EFCC or the SSS investigate me or indict me?” Agbaso asked rhetorically to a delegation of the Owerri Zone Political Leaders Forum (OZOPOLF) who paid him a solidarity visit on Friday.
The Deputy Governor was reacting to a resolution of the State Assembly, which voted in a plenary, to serve him impeachment notice through substituted means, that is, through electronic and print media, and also by pasting same at the gate of his official residence.
According to Agbaso, who has categorically denied all the charges, the whole impeachment exercise amounted to a political witch-hunt by people he said, wanted him out of the way to foster their selfish agenda to the detriment of Imo State. “I am not even a politician; I am merely a representative of the people: to make sure that the right things are done. The first time I met Joseph Dina (the contractor who owns JPROS International Nig. Ltd) was at the premises of Imo Hotels in company of the Governor. I never approved the contract, I couldn’t give the money. I did not make that payment. Why did he give me the money? Let them look for the money where they kept it,” he noted.
The National Coordinator of OZOPOLF, Chief Charles Amadi, said their mission was to find out what really happened and assured Agbaso that the group will push for a proper investigation into the matter, even as they vowed to pursue the issue of fairness and equity in ensuring that Owerri zone produces the next Governor.
To which end, Agbaso reassured them that all the allegations are mere fabrications by his opponents and detractors who are hell bent to smear his reputation and compromise his chances of becoming the next Governor since the position has been zoned to Owerri. “I assure you as an Owerri man, as a good Imo man, I live by truth, I stand by the truth, I have no need to steal, and I have never stolen.
The elder brother of the deputy governor, Chief Martin Agbaso, had earlier told the group how the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha betrayed him after he handed the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to him as well as sponsoring and leading his campaigns, saying that the governor’s antics was to torpedo the ambition of Owerri zone in the 2015 governorship race.
