EFCC storms Abia over N3.3bn scam - Goes after gov’s wife, commissioner

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 18.11.2009

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been in Abia State since last week, in connection with an alleged N3.3 billion contract scam rocking the state.

The commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the presence of the operatives in the state, but declined comments on their mission.

It was, however, gathered from another source that the operatives were laying ambush for the wife of Governor Theodore Orji, Theresa; the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Kalu Ogbuagu and another government functionary, Mrs. Agu Vivian.

Those being sought in connection with the alleged scam were said to have gone underground when they got wind of the presence of the operatives in the state.

The alleged scam was said to have been blown into the open by an American lady, Mrs. Miranda Nwadei, who was said to be married to a Nigerian.

The American, who is said to be a contractor to the state government, reportedly petitioned the anti-corruption agency, following an alleged underhand dealing in a N3.3 billion contract given her by the state government to supply 1,500 units of Chevrolet cars.

It was gathered that after the contract was signed, the wife of the governor allegedly called her to a meeting and requested that she should assist the first family in opening a coded bank account in the United States for the purpose of transferring money from Nigeria.

The American lady was said to have rejected the proposal, reportedly saying that the American government would jail her if she did so.

From this point, the state government reportedly started dragging its feet on the execution of the contract, with a source in EFCC saying that “they had no intention of getting her to supply any car; the contract was simply to siphon public money.”

Before the contract was sealed with her, it was said that she had been made to part with N11.8 million by the commissioner of transport under the guise of making her to pay contract fee which, according to the commission source, “had no documentation”.

The contractor was also said to have imported four units of the Chevrolet car and made them available to the state government as sample, with the governor’s wife reportedly collecting three of the cars while the fourth was said to have been collected by the commissioner.

The commission’s operatives were said to have recovered the car with the commissioner, while access was said to have been denied to the three with the governor’s wife.

It was when nothing was forthcoming from the state government despite the supply of sample and payment of contract fee that the American reportedly petitioned the anti-corruption agency.

The commission is also said to be probing the text messages exchanged among the governor, his wife and the American lady over the alleged proposal made to her on the opening of the coded account as well as the car supply contract.

According to the source, “The governor’s wife and others went underground immediately they got wind of our operatives’ presence in the state. We will continue to search for them until we get them.”


http://www.tribune.com.ng/18112009/news/news2.html

Will corruption ever atleast reduce in Nigeria?

Na waooo

corruption is now a way of life in Nigeria.

OMO IBO:

Na waooo

corruption is now a way of life in Nigeria.

It is long it has been a way of life, but what baffles me now is that, even the government agencies now seems helpless. It is only EFCC that is even trying. As for ICPC, it is a share waste of money and time. They should scrap it or merge it with EFCC. As for our leaders, we shall continue to experience this until elections in Nigeria is not a do-or-die affair.

Its good to caych them young, if you know what \i mean
Before the deal is consummated, oprotect them from themselves.

Enjoyment1:

Will corruption ever atleast reduce in Nigeria?

Yes it will, when everyone is corrupt!. Paint a picture of everybody carrying guns in Nigeria, armed robbery will only not reduce, but will vanish. Who will go and rob a family where he knows every member of that family has a gun? If there are co-tenants, then you can imagine the number of guns in that compound?. So will corruption die a natural death, if everyone is corrupt. How? I dont know!.

Oboma1:


It is long it has been a way of life, but what baffles me now is that, even the government agencies now seems helpless. It is only EFCC that is even trying. As for ICPC, it is a share waste of money and time. They should scrap it or merge it with EFCC. As for our leaders, we shall continue to experience this until elections in Nigeria is not a do-or-die affair.

And you think the EFCC will do anything??
It is rife for the EFCC to raise dust then end up giving some lame explanation.

As for ICPC. . . .what a load of rubbsih Govt agency it is!

wow

iyawo govenor

Maybe, he's trying to pay Orji Kalu back.

And perhaps why Ministry of works in Nigeria has become "ministry of no work".

Enjoyment1:

We will continue to search for them until we get them.”

Why can't they issue an arrest warrant instead of sesearching for them as if they are one kinda illegal immigrants. Is the immunity clause protecting her as well?

presido1:

Why can't they issue an arrest warrant instead of sesearching for them as if they are one kinda illegal immigrants. Is the immunity clause protecting her as well?

You really took that question from my mouth, is the immunity clause protecting her too? Abeg, go ahead and arrest her, if you have enough evidence. Dont wait until they empty the treasury.

What is happening in Abia is really unfortunate.Nothing is working in the state.The secondary & primary school teachers are on strike.
Most of the roads in Umuahia & Aba are impassable eg ikot ekpene road going to ariam in umuahia,faulks road,ph road,ngwa road in Aba and others.The power supply in Umuahia capital city of Abia state is nothing to write about.The state owned TV statn BCA has been off air for more than 2months now.The gov dosnt seem bothered.The taps that were hitherto running in umuahia wen this administratn came into office has stopped for more than 3months now.Some time last year the state civil service commission sold employment forms at N1,000 for graduates and N500 for non graduates to upto 15,000 pple.After the test last year nothing has been heard about their employment.Recently the state gov banned okada & brought tricycles popularly called keke napep.U wont believe it,this keke were sold for as high as N400,000.The government is a failure.It is only in Abia state were local gov workers are owed upto 9months salary.Every month they'll collect allocatn frm fed.Gov.yet there is nothing to show.All projects being undertaken by the gov are 'ungoing projects' and are never completed.

ReachRich:

What is happening in Abia is really unfortunate.Nothing is working in the state.The secondary & primary school teachers are on strike.
Most of the roads in Umuahia & Aba are impassable eg ikot ekpene road going to ariam in umuahia,faulks road,ph road,ngwa road in Aba and others.The power supply in Umuahia capital city of Abia state is nothing to write about.The state owned TV statn BCA has been off air for more than 2months now.The gov dosnt seem bothered.The taps that were hitherto running in umuahia wen this administratn came into office has stopped for more than 3months now.Some time last year the state civil service commission sold employment forms at N1,000 for graduates and N500 for non graduates to upto 15,000.After the test last year nothing has been heard about their employment again.Recently the state gov banned okada & brought tricycles popularly called keke napep.U wont believe it,this keke were sold as high as N400,000.The government is a failure.

I am ashamed of that government, if all the highlighted above are real. It has been long I went to Aba, and what I saw in Aba, made Aba, the dirtiest city/town in Nigeria. Water dropped from my eyes. I even had to ask the driver, how they are coping/ The man said that area was even neat and atleast passable. He mentioned one other area, which I have forgotten the name. He said, the road has totally been closed due to dirt taking over the road. I wonder if that government really have her people in mind. Yet, he will still tell people what he has achieved so far since he took over governance. Abia people, arise and cry out!.

It really saddened me to see Aba degenerate. God will really take time to judge this country.

ICPC should be scrapped not merged with EFCC. More than 50% of the corruption in Nigeria is perpetuated by politicians in power plus their immediate relatives.

Indeed, it is waste of government funds. I dont see what ICPC is doing at all.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@

and where are the baifara family

let off?

This is one of the dumbest Governor of all times. He really irritates me

aisha2:

This is one of the dumbest Governor of all times. He really irritates me

I am sure Orji Uzo Kalu will regret ever handing over power to that slowpoke. The man does not have anything to contribute. He can not even maintian the ones he met.

Oboma1:


I am sure Orji Uzo Kalu will regret ever handing over power to that slowpoke. The man does not have anything to contribute. He can not even maintian the ones he met.

The man was far better than this non-performer in that state. The man is just sleeping in the office.

Naija I hail thee.

legitimate ways of making money exist even while in government,men these politicians should sharp up and think of creative ways of making money for themselves.These peeps just run a cash and carry kind of biz. Inflate a contract by over 500% and use a stooge to siphon it to a foreign bank account.

Corruption is now food and water in Nigeria. Glory be to GOD, who will judge us for all our deeds!.

Why won't the governor's wife be corrupt, when the husband is not focused.

The answer to your qestion is that there is no Government in Abia State. For the eight years Orji Uzor Kalu ruled Abia state with his Mother, they ended up enslaving Abians who unknowingly rushed to take their Okija secret oat in order to be part of a system they though could end their hunger,but ended up getting them more and more impoverished. How can there be a government in Abia when a sitting governor of a state will be coming to work from the home of the ex-governor's mother? How can there be a government in Abia when T.A.Orji had sold his heart to the devil of Okija shrine.Today at the hearing in the Apeal,he is no longer arguing to belong to Okija shrine,but is arguig that Okija shrine is not a secret society. I have known T.A.Orji for over twenty five years and my knowledge of him is not what is reflecting in his daily attitude to governance as I am convinced he has lost both his mental and natural bearings. Not just the Aba case is fit for mention.What about Umuahia? Today,you cannot drive any good car in Umuahia or its environs without having at least four security personel following you all about.My friend Pius lost his Amarda SUV and huge sums of money to armed bandits,Tony's Range Rover SUV was snatched by armed robbers while his wife was drivng home from the bank.Kachi lost his QX56 the next day at Ohiya junction, Kelechi lost his Landcruiser SUV and a Toyota Camry and so on and so fort.All these incidents happened last december. What about the kidnapping saga? Since the 2007 december, Abia state has recorded over 1,400 cases of kidnapping. If you doubt me please check the records from the state police command. Yet we have an OCHENDO sitting in the governor's lodge like a dummy without showing any concern. Orji Uzor Kalu amsed so much wealth such that he believes he can use it to turn any situation to his favour, but forgetting that it is God who seteth up Kings and Bringeth down Kings that men may know that God ruleth in the Kingdom of men. We are awaiting the judgement of the Appeal court sitting in Portharcourt and except if God has become man who can be bribed(but God forbid) Therefore,come the judgement day, we shall borrow a leaf from the Action congress to buy enough brooom to sweep away T.A.Orji,Orji Uzor Kalu,Oduko and their likes who have held Abians in bondage.


http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum/articles-comments/27453-there-any-government-abia-state.html

Abians, is this comment from this guy correct?

The governor is a very greedy man.He has bought the entire house at the close where he resides & renamed it "Ochendo close".The latest house he bought belonged to the present comm of fin at the cost of N250m.

ReachRich:

The governor is a very greedy man.He has bought the entire house at the close where he resides & renamed it "Ochendo close".The latest house he bought belonged to the present comm of fin at the cost of N250m.

More on this Abia state governor. He seems not to know how to govern.

Abia is the only state were they use cement in road rehabilitatn.The roads they repaired wit cement early this year are all death traps esp the orpet junctn,ikot ekpene rd and zone 9 junctn.

I wonder how that man won any election in Abia state.