The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is alleging that it has uncovered a sinister plot by the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to destabilize the APGA in the State with the intention of causing disaffection within its ranks and undermining the government of Governor Rochas Okorocha.
A statement signed by Mr. Marshal Okafor-Anyanwu, Imo state Chairman of the APGA, indicated that the ill-advised presidential meddlesomeness was a belated attempt to torpedo the ongoing investigation of graft and racketeering by the Imo State House of Assembly against the Deputy Governor, Mr. Jude Agbaso. The Assembly, yesterday found the Deputy Governor guilty of financial malfeasance and passed a vote of no confidence on him; paving the way for his eventual impeachment and removal from office.
“We recall that Chief Rochas Okorocha, a few days suspended his oversee trip to intervene when events as regards to this subject matter almost assumed a very negative direction. We are therefore surprise with the way and manner the Presidency and national leadership of the PDP unexpectedly showed interest on the matter and subsequently declared support for the deputy governor, who is not a member of the PDP,” read the APGA statement in part.
The APGA said the Presidency’s interference in the Imo State crisis is part of efforts by the Jonathan administration to create dissensions within the APGA and prevent a unified APGA from joining the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) merger which has vowed to give President Goodluck Jonathan a run for his money come 2015.
According to the APGA, Chief Martin Agbaso, elder brother to the embattled deputy governor reportedly struck a deal with the PDP as part of a grand clandestine bargain to deliver the State to Jonathan by keeping the Imo State APGA out of the APC coalition. In return, the Presidency will use its influence to sabotage and undermine moves by the State Assembly to impeach his junior brother.
“We gathered that the 12 PDP lawmakers in the state legislature summoned to Abuja a few days ago, met with the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, at NICON Hilton, where the lawmakers were told in clear terms not to participate in the ongoing investigation on corrupt allegation against the deputy governor,” the APGA statement averred.
Huhuonline.com understands that the deputy governor was found guilty of collecting N458 million in kick-backs from a contractor, JBROS International Nigeria Ltd; which inevitably led to the abandonment of some road projects in Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu municipalities in the State. After reviewing the report of the ad-hic committee set up to investigate the issue, it was established that bribes and kick-backs to the tune of N458 million were paid by the contractor into two bank accounts on the instructions of the deputy governor.
According to the report, the sum of N458 million being the gratification demanded by the deputy governor was paid in two installments to the two accounts provided by the Agbaso; Account No. 0045630151 with GT Bank and another Account No. 1015334698 with United Bank for Africa (UBA). The report included testimonies by the chairman of JBROS International Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Joseph Dina who corroborated the evidence with documentary receipts.
Mr. Dina told the committee that the deputy governor gave him the account numbers on the phone and directed him to pay the N458 million into the accounts, which he did in two installments; first “…in February 2012 on the receipt of N1.035 billion, the sum of N325 million in favour of Three Brothers Concepts Limited account No. 0045630151 with GT Bank and another N133 million paid in June to IHSAN BDC Limited in account No.1015334698 with UBA Plc.”
Based on the committee’s findings, the assembly resolved that: “a vote of no confidence be passed on the deputy governor for acts unbecoming of his person and office.” The Assembly also directed the Head of the Civil Service to immediately commence disciplinary action in accordance with civil service rules against the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Alex Nlebedum; Director of Planning, Research and Statistics and Resident Engineer attached to the contract for criminal negligence in the performance of their duties and report to the assembly within 14 days.
The Imo State Assembly further enjoined the state and local governments to blacklist Messrs. JBROS International Nigeria Limited from doing any business with them upon completion of the existing contracts and directed the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take measures to ensure immediate recovery of the sum of N200 million being over payment to Messrs. JBROS on the said contract.
But the deputy governor has dismissed the move to impeach him as a witch-hunt by Governor Rochas Okorocha, who believes he is standing in the way of his efforts to pillage Imo State into bankruptcy. He accused Okorocha of masterminding what he said was the sinister plot to use the State House Speaker, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, to tarnish his image and replace him with his Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere, who hails from the same Owerri zone like the deputy governor.
