₦airaland Forum

This quote is from a forum post, but I love how it lays out the key questions of the scandal, so let's start with it:

taraaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! News Flash!
And here's the tit bit!

Three cars in the convoy of the Anambra state gov was intercepted today in Lagos by men of the Police Force carrying N250m CASH. On investigation, the men on the convoy said the money belonged to the gov but later on the public relations office of the Anambra state government said the money belonged to a contractor who was paid that HUGE sum; in CASH.

At a press brief (which apparently was a sham cos the Minister of Information could not make an impression on the journalists present), the minister said the money actually belonged to the contractor who was using the governor's cars to convey the money as the cars were going to FAR AWAY Lagos for servicing.

He failed, using all manner of language and terms to answer very clear questions thrown at him like: what is part of the contract for the money to be transported to Lagos using govt cars? what was a contractor doing in a governor's convoy when the gov wasnt there? what was the contract executed? what was the contract valued at? why would such a huge amount be paid in cash when we are aiming at a cashless society? No service can be made for cars in Awka and the whole of the EAStern parts? Is Lagos the closest point for servicing cars?

The govt even asked reporters present not to write on the story.
End of News!!!

Hey Rockers! What do you make of this??

https://www.asorock.com/Topic/Everyday-living/Anambra-State-Governor-Convoy-Intercepted-In-Lagos-With-N250m-Cash

This story ought to be the most objective and best first reading about this scandal. It covers what happens on that fateful day:

Contrary to speculations that the case of recent recovery of a whooping sum of N250 million in cash in a private office of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State in Apapa, Lagos by eagle-eyed policemen in Lagos has been rested, indications emerged over the week that Police authorities in Abuja have commenced thorough investigations into the matter.

This is just as untold details of the circumstances that led to the strange discovery and the role played by all the parties involved including the Police were unfolded by reliable police sources at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that on the said day, which was Sunday, Police authorities in Lagos received information from one of the aides to Governor Peter Obi that a huge sum of money was been conveyed to the Governor's private company at Aerodrome road in Apapa, Lagos.

Based on this, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Marvel Akpoyibo led some of his officers including the Area Commander in Apapa and they stormed the company.

Police sources said on getting to the scene, they saw the exotic jeeps that transported the money which were arraigned in suit cases inside the premises.

The Police reportedly instructed one of the aids to the Governor who was seen there to inform the Governor of their intention to inspect the vehicles. At this juncture, according to reports, the Governor instructed his aides not to open the vehicles until he comes to Lagos.

As soon as the Commissioner of Police was informed of the Governor's directive, he reportedly deployed policemen to guard the vehicles until the arrival of the Governor.

That Sunday, at about 2.30 pm, both the Commissioner of Police and Governor Obi arrived the scene with their entourage and the Police Commissioner insisted that the vehicles must be thoroughly searched in the presence of everybody because the information received was a case of arms and ammunition being stockpiled for the 2010 election in Anambra State.

Governor Obi who was reportedly not comfortable with the Commissioner's directive was said to have capitulated by directing his aids to open the vehicle and this led to the discovery of the whooping sum of N250 million. Saturday Vanguard learnt that at this stage, the Commissioner of police quickly alerted the Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro who directed that the Governor should make a statement over the discovery.

Sources said that in his statement, Governor Obi stated that the money found in the vehicles belongs to Anambra State and that it was meant for payment to one of their contractors who wanted cash.

It was gathered also that when the police asked Governor Obi why he should pay such a huge amount of money in cash instead of draft or cheque, the Governor could not give reasonable answer.

It was then that the Inspector~General of Police directed that the money should be paid back to Anambra State government account without delay.

On Monday the following day, both the Commissioner of Police and Governor Obi reportedly moved to Spring bank where the money was paid into Anambra State Government account and a photocopy of the deposit slip made and handed over to the Commissioner of Police.

Saturday Vanguard also learnt that what fueled police suspicion over the money was that they also got information that the Governor was billed to travel out of the country a week after the money was intercepted.

To worsen the speculation, Governor Obi reportedly traveled overseas after the incident.

It was at this stage that the Inspector~General of Police who was properly briefed on the incident directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department under Deputy Inspector~General of Police, Israel Ajao to take over the case and unravel the mystery surrounding the movement of the cash from Anambra State to Lagos.

The IGP's directive was also said to have been prompted by the fact that the contractor whom Governor Obi claimed owns the money never showed up at all stages of the discovery and the fact that Lagos state Police Command preliminary investigations revealed a case of money laundering against the Governor.

So far, sources at the Force headquarters said detectives will soon conclude their investigations into the matter based on the fact that Police authorities vowed to get to the root of the case without fear or favor.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/alleged-n250m-anambra-money-police-launches-fresh-investigation/

THE controversial N250 million, allegedly intercepted from an Anambra state contractor in Lagos by the police last month came to an end yesterday, as a three man committee set up by the State House of Assembly, absolved Governor Peter Obi of any wrong doing, stressing that money belonging to Anambra state was not missing.

No money was missing because the police intercepted the cash and forced the governor to deposit it in an Anambra State bank account.

In the report read on the floor of the House by the chairman of the adhoc committee, Mr Gabriel Onyenwife, the committee observed that what transpired was a clear case of contract between a company, Glitz Introverse Ltd owned by Mr. Ejike Onwusogbulu and heads of the 21 local government councils in the state for the supply of 21 units of Ford Ranger 4×4 pick up vans for the police to assist in maintaining security in the state and 21 units of Kia Optima cars for use by the local government officials.

They wanted to pay for the supply of 42 vehicles in cash? So they withdrew N250m during the week, and kept it in Awka until Sunday? Then they transported the money by road to keep it in the premises of Peter Obi's private company? Because his private company is a bank??

The adoption of the report by the House of Assembly, put to an end, insinuations that Governor Obi was involved in money laundering, which had become a campaign issue for his opponents in the state, since the incident was reported.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/n250m-saga-anambra-money-not-missing-says-cttee/

I will post another story that more accurately explains what the report made by the State Assembly actually said. This is somewhat misleading.

N250m Scam: Assembly Clears Obi

Anambra State House of Assembly has cleared the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi of complicity in alleged money laundering in a N250 Million state fund intercepted by the police in Lagos state recently.

THISDAY recalled that the report of the N250 million found in possession of one of the governor’s aide had thrown up a lot of controversy in society, especially given the governor’s avowed stance in transparency.

However, in adopting the report of the three man committee set up by the Assembly June 2, 2009, to look into the matter and find out what actually transpired, the legislative body noted that the adoption was to enable the recommendation be accepted by the legislature as a working document by the House, pending the time other reports by other relevant government agencies investigating the matter would be out.

Although the adoption of the committee’s report was successful at the end of the day, it was observed that it created a near divided House as some of the members opposed the adoption, while others abstained from the voting exercise.

According to the report, "the committee found out from the office of the Secretary to the State Government that Ejike Onwusogbulu is the owner of Glitz Introserve Ltd which is a registered company with the State Government".

Part of the report submitted to the House read, “Mr. Speaker, the committee found out from the office of the Accountant General of the State that the State Government have not paid any amount of money whatsoever to either Ejike Onwusogbulu personally or to Glitz Introserve Ltd or Autozone Motors Global Ltd. (See attached a copy of the reply from the office of the Accountant General p. 35). The Accountant General appeared personally before the committee”.

“The committee on reply from the Heads of Local Government Administrations of the State and after conducting oral interview with them one after the other discovered that all the Heads of Local Government Administration, through their secretariat in the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, agreed to purchase 21 units of Kia Optima Cars for their respective offices in the 21 LGA’s of Anambra state and 21 units of Ford Ranger 4x4 Pick Up Van for the police in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to beef up security in the state.

“The Heads of Local Government Administration in all the Local Governments agreed through selective tender to award the contract to Autozone Motors Global Ltd and Glitz Introserve Ltd.

“The committee discovered that the contract sum for the purchase and supply of the aforementioned vehicles were N4,850,000 per unit for the FORD Ranger 4x4 Pick Up Van and N3,700,000 per unit for the Kia Optima Cars (See attached copies of the Contract Agreement executed jointly by the Heads of LGA’s and the Contracts for Tender P. 43-66). The total contract sum is N179,550,000. There is an Advance payment Guarantee from Fidelity Bank in respect of the contract (See attached copies). There is also a letter of Domiciliation of the above amount from one Stephaine Keri Uzo JP of office of the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, to the Branch Manager Fidelity Bank Plc, N0 7 Zik Avenue Awka. (A copy is attached).

“The committee found out that all the Local Governments raised payment vouchers and subsequently issued cheques in respect of the above contracts. The cheques are yet to be paid to the contractor though deposited with the Bank where the total sum of contract is Domiciled i.e Fidelity Bank PLC of N0. 7 Ziks Avenue , Awka.

“It was also discovered by the committee from Ejike Onwusogbulu that the amount that intercepted by the police in Lagos was N255,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira) and not N250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million). The money from investigation was an overdraft facility withdrawn by Ejike Onwusogbulu from Fidelity Bank Plc, N0 7 Ziks Avenue Awka on Thursday 28 May 2009. (see document of the overdraft facility attached P. 70-74).

“The committee found out from Ejike Onwusogbulu that he withdrew the mone[/b]y for the purposes of Direct Purchase of the contracted vehicles from [b]Dealers in Lagos who are more inclined to cash and carry transaction.

“The committee discovered that the said money withdrawn by Ejike Onwusogbulu ie N255,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira) was the money intercepted by the Police in Lagos . The Governor corroborated the fact that Ejike Onwusogbulu was the owner of the money and that the said vehicles intercepted with the money were his going for routine servicing in Lagos and that he was aware that the contractor gave the money to his driver.

“It is the recommendation of the committee that as the police and the EFCC are yet to come out with any report, this report should be accepted as a working document pending when investigation report of the police and EFCC are sent to the committee for the committee to fully report to the House”, the report added.

https://allafrica.com/stories/200907080557.html
https://www.nairaland.com/293959/governor-peter-obi-absolved-n250

So:
1) The local government chairmen individually wrote cheques for the purchase of 42 vehicles worth N179.55m.
2) Instead of cashing the checks worth N179.55m, the dealer chose to borrow N255m to buy the cars worth N179.55m.
3) He withdrew N255m towards the purchase of N179.55m on Thursday, in cash. Then he kept it at home until Sunday.
4) On Sunday, he learned that the governor was sending his Jeeps from Awka to Lagos for routine servicing.
5) He packed the N255m into suitcases & asked the governor's driver to deliver the money to Lagos State. Like a dispatch rider.
6) The governor's Jeeps, the suitcases and the N255m cash were found at the compound of the governor's private business.
Wtf is this cock and bull story? I believe they couldn't make up a better story because they were caught red-handed with suitcases of cash.

Question: Why did the police say the money they found was N250m when Peter Obi says that the money from his bank was N255m?

Here's another attempt to explain the governor's position. From a Vanguard article by Vincent Ujumadu:

Those who are familiar with what obtains in the state know that Obi uses only qualified contractors for all jobs in the state, rather than use such contracts for political patronage.

Even in the purchase of government vehicles, Obi would prefer to buy directly from the dealers so as to save money for the state and that was one of the reasons he was hated by professional politicians who depend mainly on government patronage for their upkeep. That was really why the recent report that Governor Obi's aide was nabbed with N250 million in Lagos has refused to sink among unbiased people in the state.

Since the incident, Obi had been doing a lot of explanation. Last week, he was confronted by reporters over the issue and he gave details of what happened. The explanation ran thus: Following the increasing incidence of kidnapping and robbery in the state, the state government held a meeting with the heads of administration in the 21 local government areas on the best way to handle the situation.

During one of the meetings, they agreed to purchase two vehicles each for the police and another set of Kia Optima cars for local government liaison officers who would be monitoring government projects in their areas.

Each of the local governments chairmen then issued a cheque covering the amount for the car to be allocated to his council and a car dealer was contacted to make the purchase on their behalf. However, the dealer who was known to government decided to cash the money in Awka and joined the governor's convoy going to Lagos.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/gov-obi-in-the-web-of-n250-million-controversy/
The above report intentionally glosses over the most ridiculous details of Peter Obi's cover up story. The version that's in the previous post.

Since Peter Obi's story doesn't make sense, I had to go and look for alternative explanations of what actually happened that day.

Here's one that was written by a Tony Agbo. It was initially published on a dead news site called huhuonline & mirrored by thenigerianvoice:

Gov. Peter Obi N250m in three suite cases: An insider’s account

Instead of hiding his head in shame and apologizing to Ndi Anambra, Mr. Valentine Obienyem is now trying to claim the moral high ground as a result of Obi's camp's feeling that they have now adequately covered up the Governor's money laundry run of last Sunday. I have always warned them that despite stealing Anambra State blind in the last three and half years, this is one episode they will never get away with.

Please Mr. Obienyem, this is a very serious matter. Lives are being lost daily in Anambra as law and order have now totally broken down under Peter Obi's misrule, while you and your boss seem to be having the time of your lives stockpiling our security vote every month. The blood of the innocently slaughtered in the state due to Obi's greed in stealing our security vote at the end of every month with the help of Ndibe Obi, will never let you get away with your financial crimes against Anambra State. While Peter Obi consistently fails to remember to pay our civil servants when due, he however never fails to remember to cart away our security vote on the last day of every month. Note that it was on the last day of last month that N250,000,000 was taken to his private office in Lagos from his office in Awka.

Valentine claims not to have seen Barrister Emeka Okpoko in the past one month and “was no where around the scene”. Let me help your memory out here for you saw Emeka Okpoko in company of Mr. Peter Obi who you also now lie was not even in Lagos on the day of the offence, but who was clearly also at the scene of the crime;

1. Remember that you Mr. Obienyem was booked to fly to Abuja with the 'Governor' on the evening of Sunday the 31st of May 2009 with Arik Air scheduled to leave Enugu airport at 3.30pm but both of you despite having confirmed tickets for that flight could not make it as a result of your presence in Lagos that afternoon.

2. Remember that the said owner of the N250,000,000 Mr. Ejike Onwusogbulu made an unscheduled flight that Sunday afternoon from Enugu airport with Gov. Peter Obi after the money had been intercepted in the premises of Next International in Apapa while Mr. Onwusogbulu was still in Awka and by then, knew nothing about the transaction.

3. Remember that the Dana flight was delayed for over 40 minutes while Mr. Obi and his team were standing at the tarmac sweating, as a result of the Governor not being booked to fly on that flight originally, the operators of Dana air had a problem allocating seats to Obi and his team namely; [a]Head of Convoy, the tall dark and lanky Officer Anthony Manya Ejike Onwusogbulu 'the now infamous car contractor' [c] Mr. Ifesi Solomon [d] the Governor's Chief Security Officer [a Yoruba officer who was not even dressed for the journey and was only told he was going to Lagos when he got to Enugu]. You should by now know that the Governor was properly monitored that Sunday. The picture evidence will be produced at the right time.

4. The Governor's friend Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah CEO Capital Oil and Gas Ltd., who could not get a seat on that Dana plane did beg Mr. Peter Obi to let him [Ubah] use his ticket since he was traveling alone without his aides while no seats were available for the Governor's aides whom the Governor could not travel without. Obi refused Mr. Ubah's request and eventually, the pilot released two extra seats to Mr. Obi and his team by getting air hostesses to seat in the cockpit with him.

5. Mr. Peter Obi sat in seat number 2a while Barrister Obika from Imo State sat in seat number 1a. Gov. Obi also traveled on that flight with his good friend Barrister Afam Ofomata [Ofomus] who helped him reclaim his cash filled suitcases upon their arrival in Lagos.

I have taken my time in narrating Peter Obi's unscheduled movement to Lagos to rescue Mr. Obienyem and to sacrifice our N250,000,000 to the Lagos State Police Commisioner, I.G of Police Mr. Okiro [who retires next month and doesn't give a toss about Anambra State] and the Nigerian Guild of Editors who are now part of the conspiracy to cover up the scandal in the media. Narrating the above in details is now important because the government has now offered five different versions of what happened with the latest being that both Mr. Obienyem and Gov. Obi now claiming not being in Lagos last Sunday the 31st of May 2009.

According to the new Commissioner for Information Chief Maja Umeh, published in the Guardian newspaper of today Saturday 6th June 2009; 'The Anambra State government has again distanced itself from the intercepted N250 million found in one of the vehicles on the governor's convoy in Lagos by the Police on Sunday. Commissioner for Information and Culture, Maja Umeh, noted that Governor Peter Obi was attending to official businesses in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday when the news broke. Umeh stressed that Obi was not in Lagos. The commissioner surmised that the owner of the money hitchhiked the three-car convoy, which went to Lagos for routine maintenance servicing. Umeh argued that joining the convoy was strictly the man's personal decision, which he could have worked out in private with the convoy's drivers. The state government has no hands in it."

6. The said 'contractor', Mr. Ejike Onwusogbulu was not in the car that took the money to Lagos therefore did not “hitch hike the three-car Governor's convoy”. He traveled with the Governor on Dana air after the Governor found out the money was intercepted. What is also very instructive is that Mr. Obienyem is now asked to deny that this 'contractor' is the brother in law of the Governor's younger brother, Ndibe. 'The Contractor' is merely a fall guy who has agreed to accept that the cash is his own. Lucky guy you would have thought? Forget it for he will never see one kobo of it. If Obi had been willing to give the guys that ferry the loot monthly just one percent of it, they would not have 'ratted' on him.

Valentine Obienyem was in Lagos with Peter Obi whose only mission in town was to secure the release of those who were detained and to cover up the crime also. A government house source who wants to remain anonymous complained that the Governor's cars are always serviced monthly either in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt, every month-end, depending on where Ndibe Obi is available to receive the monthly security vote from Awka.

Two evenings ago, Peter Obi gave the entire members of Anambra State House of Assembly N60 million as 'Democracy Day' gift. Last night, Peter's Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Mr. Dubem Obaze, went to the house of the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly Chief Anayo Nebe, holding a meeting with members of the House appointed to investigate this matter. Dubem left the Speaker's house much later without the 'Ghana must go bag' he had entered with.

Finally, Barrister Obele Chuka is just one of a very tiny minority of courageous Anambra citizens willing to pay the supreme prize in order to rescue our state from the evil clutches of an evil man with a severe split personality syndrome. Our Governor on one hand is a living Saint and on the other extreme, a psychopathic and murderous embezzler of state funds while swearing on his children's lives. Poor innocent kids! Obele Chuka deserves our prayers and support as he battles yet again, another satanic 'Governor' in Anambra State. When shall it be well with Anambra State? Mr. Obienyem over to you.

Tony Agbo

https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/374/gov-peter-obi-n250m-in-three-suite-cases-an-insiders-acco.html

This makes much more sense than Peter Obi's cock & bull story. It's filled with details that match the version in the police story. To those saying that N250m is too small for a billionaire like Peter Obi to steal if he wanted to steal, the allegation against Peter Obi is that it happened every month. N250m a month equals N3bn a year or N24bn over 8 years. That's a lot of money even for a humble frugal billionaire like Peter Obi.

Here's another one written by the now defunct site Ukpaka Reports but mirrored on TheNigerianVoice and a Nairaland thread:

N250million: Peter Obi's in-law flees to the United Kingdom

As reported previously, Peter Obi had, on the last day of May 2009, dispatched two of his aides along with two mobile police officers [MOPOL] to deliver N250million to his private office in Apapa, Lagos – where they were nabbed by the Lagos police at hours after mid-day. But the reactions of the Peter Obi team to the failed money heist, which many observers believed to be knee-jerk, appear to expose the not-so-hidden criminality imbedded in the attempted money heist.

Upon the breaking news by Ukpakareports.com, Valentine Obienyem, the media assistant to Peter Obi who was also one of the money mules, released a rushed press statement pinning the ownership of the N250million to a 'contractor' and an in-law to Peter Obi in the person of Ejike Onwusogbulu [who was not present at the time of the arrest]. The media assistant indicated this while saying that the contractor requested for the N250million to be paid in cash before recanting the press statement only twelve [12] hours later. In his revised press statement, the media assistant stated that while the N250million belonged to the contractor, it was not paid in cash - that Ejike Onwusogbulu was paid in numerous checks issued by the State Government for the purchase and delivery of transport vehicles for the new Peter Obi taxi program, ANIDS.

This is funny because, in a separate story, Peter Obi claimed that the ANIDS programme was paid from kickbacks given to him by grateful contractors.

The story took another turn as our investigators reported that the Lagos police had video taped the counting of the N250million and had deposited the money into the coffers of the Anambra State Government. This time, the media assistant refined his story to explain away the reason the police deposited the 'contractor's' money into the Anambra State account, particularly since the media assistant asserts no crimes were committed.

As Ukpakareports.com learnt through impeccable sources, Peter Obi's determination to cover up his money laundering escapades and to seal all leaks of information from his office, has upped to discharge his official driver. This is in addition to the pending sacking of the Chief Security Officers and the ADC. Peter Obi is said to be unraveled by the reports of his movements on the day of the reported heist to the point that he believes that his ADC, CSO and /or driver must have leaked information to the media on his movement on that day.

Nonetheless, more information on the said 'contractor' [Ejike Onwusogbulu] has been unearthed by our investigators. Ejike Onwusogbulu, who is the brother to Ndibe Obi's wife [Ndibe Obi is Peter Obi's brother], has lived a life as a drug pusher [Heroin and Cocaine]. He was arrested in United Kingdom in 1991 during one of his many drug runs.
<<snip>>

Peter Obi has leaned on ... to reach out to the Anambra State House of Assembly to squash the probe into the failed attempt to launder N250million. The Secretary to the State Government in the person of Paul Odenigbo has been recruited into the cover up campaign also to reach the lawmakers. As recalled, the lawmakers had earlier constituted a 3-man panel to look into the money laundering matter. Of which allegations of money having exchanged hands between the lawmakers and Peter Obi's aides are abound – although the imagine maker of the State Assembly have denied the allegation. Nonetheless, to date, since the formation of the panel, nothing has come from it which jives with what one of the concerned lawmaker who did not want his name told our investigators that Peter Obi has successful reached out to the members of the 3-man probe panel and that nothing significant will come from the panel. The source, who is a principal officer of the State Assembly, continued to add that a group of lawmakers [10 in number] believed to be loyal to Peter Obi have threatened to create a parallel House of Assembly if the lawmakers continue their inquiry into the money laundering matter.

Peter Obi's troubles appear to be on the dawn of its unraveling as more questions regarding the source of the N250million arise. Ukpakareports.com in talking to the Commissioner of Economics and Planning in the person of Chinyere Okunna, gathered that Peter Obi following the arrest and release of Valentine Obienyem and Benjamin Uba, had assembled his cabinet for an emergency meeting to assure and/or convince them of the source of the money. According to the Commissioner, “Peter Obi presented the checks to us, I saw the checks myself. The checks were for the purchase of 4x4 pick up vehicles for each of 21 Local Government offices.” The commissioner indicated that the contract was awarded to Ejike Onwusogbulu's company. Our investigators gathered however that the contract which was awarded in late 2007 resulted in the withdrawal of N4.7million from each of the 21 LGA - equivalent to N98.7million. It remains uncertain whether the N98.7million supposedly used to purchase the pickups in late 2007 was part of the N250million – as insinuated by the Honorable Commissioner.

It is believed the escape of Ejike Onwusogbulu to United Kingdom is timed to partly to avoid providing answers to the beehive of contradictions that has cracked a vault of potent questions - with possible criminal overtones. Particularly as it has been gathered that the EFCC has arrived on the grounds in Anambra State and have begun clandestine collection of information, it is feared that Ejike Onwusogbulu would or may pose a weak link to the web of deception currently being weaved by the Peter Obi media team.

https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/481/n250million-peter-obis-in-law-flees-to-the-united-kingdom.html
https://www.nairaland.com/286879/n250million-peter-obis-in-law-ejike

From Sam Omatseye's Obinomics article:

The governor had an office at 7, Aerodrome Avenue, Apapa, and he had instructed an aide and one or two others to deposit about N250 million there.

Someone in his inner circle was probably not happy with Obi. So, the police followed a tipoff and top cop Marvel Akpoyibo – remember him? Former CP and DIG? – organised his men and intercepted the vehicle headed to Obi’s office. The matter roiled Obi, cut short a trip, put together some media men to hush the story.

But some reporters craved it like shark sniffing blood because it was a pip of a story. Under Akpoyibo, the report landed in the office of the inspector general of police. PDP top brass cried. Olisa Metuh berated the state house of assembly for hiding their tails behind their cowardly backs, implying that the rubberstamp legislators had sold their souls to the puritan Obi. They yelled impeachment. PDP thought the time was ripe to cut down the APGA mango. Even Obi’s party disowned him on the scandal. But the man would not go. Mango would not go. Obi glowed lush, round and proud on Anambra’s tree.

The IG and those after him have not released the report, and no house member has had the courage to browbeat the fellow. In 2013, Olisa Okechuckwu of the APC reopened the wound, and asked the police to unearth the findings. He worried because Obiano, his account officer, was taking over from him.

No dice. The soft-voiced merchant was more warrior than his macho pursuers. He wrestled them to the floor. Men with throats of bass, soprano and treble could only tremble before Obi’s audacity, or what novelist Joseph Conrad calls the “bravado of guilt.” Just wonder how charmed Obi is. Many are calling him to be president but they are not asking for N250 million in 2009 value of the sum.

https://thenationonlineng.net/obi-nomics/

Peter Obi's media aide, Valentine Obienyem, responded:

When the issue of N250 million arose, Mr Peter Obi, in a gesture of a man sure of himself, cancelled the South-East Governors’ Forum meeting billed for that day, called the Accountant-General of the State to go to the office and furnish him with all the papers about that transaction. Heavily fortified with every handy detail, he travelled to Lagos. At the office of the then Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, he tendered the documents detailing the entire transaction. To make matters clearer, the investigating police officer (IPO) requested to see the Managing Director of the company involved in the transaction - Glitz Automobile, Lagos, probably employing the element of surprise.

Astonishing to them, still, was that the MD turned up shortly with corresponding papers, matching several cars and the amount involved. Faced with the possibility of a planned deal gone awry, the police went to Glitz’s office the same day and counted an exactly equal number of cars parked on their premises and ready for delivery to the Anambra State Government. The explanation of preferred cash transactions that reduced costs for obvious reasons was proved and understood.

Moreover, Mr Peter Obi, understanding that the set-up was initiated then, as now, by elements that wanted to aid him to sin a little and use it to campaign against his second tenure or his presidential quest as they now do, promptly wrote to the then President Musa Yar’Adua, he set aside his immunity and requested full investigations. For days, officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Police were in Anambra State, questioning and ruminating over documents. Following the directives of the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro for a thorough job, the investigating police team even came with forensic experts!

https://swiftreporters.com/obi-curing-sam-omatseyes-ignorance/

Valentine Obienyem has updated the story again o. The policemen were amazed - yet they still resumed investigation at the later date? He showed them documentation that explained the N255m, yet the state assembly only saw documentation for N179.55m?

Saint Peter Obi in the gutters of Alaigbo what a shame. After looting this type of fund weekly what will be left to execute any meaningful project. And this is the criminal igbos want sensible Nigeria to vote for. Shame !

ayokellany:
https://www.asorock.com/Topic/Everyday-living/Anambra-State-Governor-Convoy-Intercepted-In-Lagos-With-N250m-Cash

So you've finally decided to open up the thread for comments

People are still grasping at straws

I assure you guys, you're never gonna find any dirt on Peter Obi

Una no dey tire with this fake news

Ha

The issue of this 250 million Naira has long been laid to rest, it was investigated by the then PDP controlled Anambra state assembly, the EFCC and the then IG of police, Mike Okiro. Nobody found Obi wanting

How can three seperate bodies investigate a particular incident, not find any wrong doing, but you are still dragging the issue today more than 12 years later?

However, for the sake of argument, if Obi wanted to steal 250 million Naira of Anambra state money, he would not do it this way

Peter Obi was the chairman of 2 Banks in Nigeria. If Obi wanted to steal money and transfer it to Lagos, would he transfer it by road or through one of his banks? Why would Obi take the risk of tranfering money by road when he could easily transfer it by Bank transfer or even fly it on a plane?

Makes no sense

like Obasanjo said Peter Obi is no Saint, even Obi too talk say himself no be Saint.

But Obi's misgivings can't be compared to the other top 3 aspirants.

He's the best, safest, most reasonable amongst all the choices, buhari had his hand in over 3bn$ oil controversy, but people said he had integrity, but a 8yr governor only allegedly caught in 250M controversy(that has never been taken up against him by any law enforcement agency in Nigeria, is whom you want to compare to the other two glorified thieves) , someone that left huge savings, NO THIEF LEAVES WHAT HE CAN STEAL, ESPECIALLY A NIGERIAN THIEF

Even though it's obvious he has the least chances amongst the top 3 currently, I wish him all the best.

NaijaRoyalty:
Una no dey tire with this fake news

The same Pandora Papers you're using to indirectly link Tinubu to corruption is the very same expose which directly implicates Peter Obi! Have you Obi-worshippers no shame at all? At least show some consistency.

More exposures to make the facts glaring.

omohayek:
The same Pandora Papers you're using to indirectly link Tinubu to corruption is the very same expose which directly implicates Peter Obi! Have you Obi-worshippers no shame at all? At least show some consistency.

Terrible people

Thinkam:
like Obasanjo said Peter Obi is no Saint, even Obi too talk say himself no be Saint.

But Obi's misgivings can't be compared to the other top 3 aspirants.

He's the best, safest, most reasonable amongst all the choices, buhari had his hand in over 3bn$ oil controversy, but people said he had integrity, but a 8yr governor only caught in 250M controversy, someone that left huge savings, NO THIEF LEAVES WHAT HE CAN STEAL, ESPECIALLY A NIGERIAN THIEF

Even though it's obvious he has the least chances amongst the top 3 currently, I wish him all the best.

Obi is smart. He deliberately "left money" in Anambra to wade off EFCC

Thank you OP. These are the part of the main reasons PDP lost in 2019 and why they denied him a political base in both Anambra and as PDP flagbearer at the national level.
So much cases that have not even reached the courts and cleared
All those behind these cases must be investigated and tried.

Valentine said, "The explanation of preferred cash transactions that reduced costs for obvious reasons was proved and understood."

What does this mean? Does anyone understand?

donbrowser:
Obi is smart. He deliberately "left money" in Anambra to wade off EFCC

So let's assume you're right he's worse than others that stole everything and have been underwatch of Efcc and other international law enforcement agencies

Obi is a silent thief no doubt. He perfected the fraudulent act of moving 250 million every month out of state's treasury to his business premises in Lagos until a time his inner caucus snitched on him. Not satisfied, he would later open shell companies to warehouse more looted funds abroad. When a Nigerian politician starts telling you that he wears one wristwatch for a decade, you'd need to check his sanity
Hmm!

Thinkam:
So let's assume you're right he's worse than others that stole everything and have been underwatch of Efcc and other international law enforcement agencies

The issue is not about who stole less. All the options before us are corrupt. What I am after is what they did in government and how they will replicate it when elected.

The records of Obi in Anambra were very poor. Lowest IGR, lowest infrastructure development, lowest employment rate. Only progress made was in education. 13 months doctors strike. Please please

donbrowser:
The issue is not about who stole less. All the options before us are corrupt. What I am after is what they did in government and how they will replicate it when elected.

Some one stole ruthlessly when in state/fed government and institutionalized themselves as parasite on State/fed establishment , what else will you expect from them now if not worse than they did.

Whether Atiku or Tinubu, There's no metric in which I will say Atiku or Tinubu will be a better performer than Obi , unless on the criminality metric tho..

Peter Obi, a living example of whom God has washed no man can stain.

Not even 50 million Urchins!

Thinkam:
Some one stole ruthlessly when in state/fed government and institutionalized themselves as parasite on State/fed establishment , what else will you expect from them now if not worse than they did.

Whether Atiku or Tinubu, There's no metric in which I will say Atiku or Tinubu will be a better performer than Obi , unless on the criminality metric tho..

Did you read Seun's report at all?
Obi stole 250m monthly. Not once or twice.

That aside, OBI is far from Tinubu in terms of governance.

Instead of them to open thread on Tinubu, it is Peter that is their headache

His party has no structure yet, they're all having sleepless nights over him

donbrowser:
Did you read Seun's report at all?
Obi stole 250m monthly. Not once or twice.

That aside, OBI is far from Tinubu in terms of governance.

Seun was speculating, so was the writer.

The only one that sticks is the one in which he was caught, there's no way Obi would have done so continuously and not have had numerous encounters with Efcc, even governors with direct links with all federal governments from the east that have engaged in corruption have case file in Efcc ( OUK, Theodore, Rochas, even Obiano)

Until the writer, proves the continual withdrawal and not mere statements or speculation its hogwash.

I don't believe Tinubu built Lagos, so I think we should end the comparison there.

Seun:
Valentine said, "The explanation of preferred cash transactions that reduced costs for obvious reasons was proved and understood."

What does this mean? Does anyone understand?

Maybe Peter did not want to pay vat. In line with his Pandora tax dodging shenanigans

Rubbish!!!!!

Seun, rest in Jesus name.

Remove the forest of corruption in Tinubu's eye before trying to remove the spek of (250 million) wood in Peter Obi's eye.

250million only....
somebody that left 350billion for this successor
why didn't he steal all if his is a thief