Ex-Ebonyi Commissioner Arrested Over N83m Bribery Allegation

 

The EFCC on Monday August 15, 2016, arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi State, Engineer Benjamin Ogbonnaya Okah, for alleged abuse of office and collecting gratification to the tune of N83 million.

According to the EFCC Spokesman Wilson Ujuwaren, the arrest was sequel to a petition by the Ebonyi State government over the $12 million contract to a US based company Califco Group that had been abandoned since 2012, despite a mobilization of $10.8 million already paid by Ebonyi State Government into the accounts of the said company.

Investigation has revealed that both the Abuja and Ebonyi state addresses of the said company are fictitious.

In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the former Commissioner allegedly collected gratification from the company in the sum of N83 million between July 30, 2012 and December 30, 2014, through his companies: Global Victory Allied Company and Mahco Mega Nigeria Limited. Investigation in this matter continues.

Also, the EFCC has urged Nigerian youths to join in the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes.

The appealed was made on August 15, 2016 by the Commandant, EFCC Academy, Mohammed Bunu, ACP, when the Nigerian Universities Accounting Students Association (NUASA) Bayero University Kano, Kano State , visited the Commission at the EFCC office in KARU Abuja.

Bunu who was represented by Abiodun Adebanjo, said the Commission cannot do it alone and therefore need all and sundry, especially the youths to join the fight by shunning terrorism and money laundry.

Earlier, Head, Enlightenment and Re-orientation Unit, Aisha Larai Musa, who was represented by Zainab. B. Tifi, told the students that the EFCC also has the mandate to Re-Oreint the publics on the activities of the Commission and ways of employing Nigerians to join the fight against Corruption, economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

Muktar Musa Bako who led the delegation of the student thanked the Commission for the warm reception and for sensitizing them on the evil of corruption.