EFCC clears air on Imo gov

From Tope Abiola and Joe Nwachukwu - 26.03.2008

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cleared the air on the alleged arrest of the Imo State governor, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, in London on the allegations of money laundering.

The EFCC, in a release signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Osita Nwajah, said “the commission wishes to state that no such security report was issued by it on Governor Ohakim and no such report was sent to any law enforcement agency within or outside Nigeria with the intention to arrest or detain the governor.”

It added that “further checks with the law enforcement agencies mentioned do not bear out the stories of arrest and interrogation of the said governor, either based on the spurious security or other reports of the commission.”

Also, a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Steve Osuji, stated that the governor was never arrested, questioned or detained by policemen, fraud and money laundering Special Scotland Yard Squad or any police or security agent.

He added that no security agency in Nigeria had any record of arrest of the governor by the London security operatives.

He claimed that the allegation and publication in the newspapers were the handiwork of some politicians in Imo State to tarnish the image of the governor.

Also, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Chuma Nnaji, while speaking with journalists in Owerri on Tuesday, also debunked the arrest of the governor, saying “it was a fallacy.”
He maintained that it was not possible for the governor to carry the sum of 1.2 million pounds cash with his aides on the tour that lasted not up to a week.

It will be recalled that our sister newspaper, Sunday Tribune, reported that Governor Ohakim was quizzed in London by agents of the Scotland Yard recently over alleged money laundering.