N458m bribe: Rochas Okorocha faults EFCC clearance of Agbaso

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.