The controversial impeachment of the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Sir Jude Ikechukwu Agbaso early this year for allegedly receiving N458 million bribe from the Managing Director of JPROS International Nig Ltd, Mr. Joseph Dina may have been conjured up.

Nine months after the controversial impeachment, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a thorough investigation has declared that Sir Agbaso is innocent of the allegation after all.

Agbaso was hurriedly impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly in February this year following the decision of a seven-man probe panel inaugurated by the State Chief Judge, Justice Benjamin Njemanze.

He was accused of demanding and receiving a bribe of N458 million from JPROS which was awarded a contract by the Imo State Government for the construction of Warehouse/Orlu Road Junction, Odunze Street, Aba Road and Old Nekede Road all within Owerri metropolis.

The Deputy Governor who also doubled as Commissioner for Works denied the allegation and made a formal request to the EFCC in March, requesting the commission to investigate the road contracts awarded at the sum of N1.5 billion  to JPROS and the purported bribe  Joseph Dina gave him as the then Deputy Governor and Commissioner of Works. After nine months of investigation, EFCC  has finally cleared Sir Agbaso.

In a letter dated November 27, 2013 and addressed to Sir Jude Agbaso, the Commission said there was no evidence to suggest that you (Sir Agbaso) benefited from the contract.

The letter signed by Olaolu Adegbite, MFR, Director of Operations, said Joseph Dina admitted to the anti-graft agency that he never gave any money to Sir Agbaso.

EFCC said that following its findings, it may take legal actions to bring those involved in the allegation and road contracts to justice.

The letter titled: “Re-Formal Request For Investigation Of Mr. Joseph Dina of JPROS International Nigeria Ltd, a Construction Company located at No. 11 Umezuruike Street, Opposite Umezuruike Hospital, Owerri, Imo State” reads:

“We refer to your letter dated 21st March 2013 on the above subject and hereby provide our findings so far into the case.

“Road contracts for the sum of one and a half billion Naira awarded to JPROS International Nig. Ltd was alleged to have engendered fraudulent bribe payments of N458 million by the Managing Director of JPROS, one Joseph Dina to you as the then Deputy Governor and Commissioner  for Works.

“In furtherance of the investigation, evidence adduced from interview of key officials of Imo State Government and other important witnesses, as well as documents obtained from relevant financial institutions, confirmed that the sum of N1,305,000,000.00 was paid to JPROS to execute the Warehouse-Orlu Road Junction, Odunze Street, Aba Road and Old Nekede Road projects within Owerri metropolis before mobilization to the sites.

“The total sum of $5,538,830.00 USD was found to have been remitted to the personal accounts of Dina in Dubai and Lebanon.  There is no single evidence so far that suggested that you benefited from the funds.

“In his statement to the Commission on 28th March 2013, Dina revealed that he never gave any money to you or any other official of the State Government over the contract, which are yet to be fully executed as at the last visit of our officers in April 2013.

“The Commission’s legal department is working on the case file with a view to taking appropriate legal action, please.”

Reacting to the EFCC findings, Chief Martin Agbaso, elder brother to Sir Jude Agbaso said he received the news with mixed feelings. First, he was happy that his brother has been cleared of the alleged bribe-taking.

However, he was sad that “a man can sit down in his office with his bunch of crooks and set-up such a kangaroo process just to destroy a man who has not done anything.”

He said from day one, he knew that his brother was innocent of the allegation and had said at that time that he would do everything within his power to get to the crux of the matter, knowing that his brother, like any Agbaso, cannot steal.

The APGA strongman expressed regret that the Imo State Governor, allowed a Lebanese journeyman to run away with a whopping N1.3billion belonging to the people of Imo State.

Comments

comments