Corruption: EFCC Recovers Over N244 Million from South-East Governors, Ex-governors

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Wednesday, October 19th, 2016

By IGNATIUS OKPARA,Enugu

ENUGU NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, says it has recovered over two hundred and forty four million, five hundred and seventy four thousand, five hundred and eighty seven, twenty kobo, N244,574,587.20 from those that looted government treasury and other sources in the south east geo political zone of Nigeria.

Aside the said amount, the anti-graft agency also recovered $130,750 USD from assets forfeited by the looters in the area which sum has been paid into the federal government coffers.

Also recovered include another $955,465 US dollars; €10,000 Euro as well as 3,588 Chinese RMB.

Briefing newsmen Wednesday in Enugu on achievements of the commission so far in the region, south east Zonal Head,of the agency, Johnson Babalola, said that apart from the monies recovered, EFCC is now on the trails of serving and former governors in the zone with the aim of bringing them to book.

Babalola who said that the cases involving the governors are under intense investigation said: “the zone is equally closing in on some politically exposed persons in cases involving former governors and companies linked to serving governors.”

The south east Zonal Head, hinted that the Commission has received in recent time, five hundred and twenty two cases out of which thirty six have been concluded and charged to various courts in the zone for prosecution while it has secured fourteen, (14) convictions.

On cases of public interest other than political matters, Babalola, disclosed that the Commission have two chief executive officers of privately owned companies that specialise in collecting monies from unsuspecting customers in the form of thrift or mortgage banking in their custody.

He gave their names to include, Chief Patrick Nwokike, CEO of Let’s Partner With You Enugu and Joshua Morah, CEO Borec Services.

According to him, Nwokike is being investigated for collecting over four billion Naira, N4,000,000,000 from unsuspecting members of the public in return for certain monthly percentage which is discovered to be shrouded in fraud.

Babalola also revealed that the Commission received over 150 petitions against Chief Nwokiike, adding that he operated different account and that the N4 billion was discovered in only two of such accounts.

He further disclosed that on further investigation, Nwokike was discovered to have acquired two exotic SUV vehicles, a multi-million naira warehouse as well as three choice mansions at different locations which have been sealed and placed under investigation.

Joshua Morah of Borec Services, on his part, is alleged to have collected over N9 billion and being investigated, following over thirty petitions written against him.

The south east EFCC helmsman, pointed out that although, the Commission had achieved this much, they are not resting on their oars until more successes are achieved for a better future.

The Zonal Head said that the immediate past governor of Enugu state, Sullivan Chime, was still under investigation over the 2015 N400 million PDP presidential campaign funds, disclosing that two serving commissioners under the present Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, led administration, namely Charles Egumgbe, Water Resources and Rita Mba, Special Duties were invited recently and detained by the Commission over the said campaign fund.

He said that the commission has not received any corruption petition against former Abia state governor, Senator Theodore Orji, and challenged anybody that has a case against him to petition the Commission for investigation.

His words: “I don’t have petitions against him, Senator Theodore Orji,” Babalola said.

Commenting on issue of Federal Roads in the South East, the EFCC boss, said that the agency has invited the Controller of Works to explain how contracts were awarded in the area with a view to getting at contractors that did shoddy jobs on Federal Roads in the Zone.