From GEORGE ONYEJIUWA, Owerri
The Imo State Government has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must have been misinformed over an alleged N40billion loan scam involving the government and Zenith Bank as no such facility was taken by the administration.
Reacting to the alleged loan scam , the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Chinedu Ofor said it was an attempt by the opposition to divert the attention of the people from the probe of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration in the state, as such loan facility was never taken by the government.
In a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr.Chinedu Ofor, the government stated that the purported arrest of the Commissioner for Finance, Chike Okafor and the Accountant-General of the state, George Eche by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja over an alleged N40billion loan scam involving the state and Zenith Bank as unfounded and entirely false, adding that the Anti-graft agency made a mistake.
“The attention of the government of Imo State has been drawn to the report of the detention of the Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor and the Accountant-General of the state, Mr. George Eche by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The report also alleged that both government officials were arrested for obtaining a N40billion loan from Zenith Bank on behalf of the state government.” Mr Offor, maintained that, “the allegation in its entirety is false, unfounded and another campaign of calumny designed to divert attention from the probe of the former PDP administration in the state.
“We make bold to state categorically that the government of Imo State under His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha never obtained N40billion loan nor misappropriated the state funds as alleged. “Instead, the present government has paid up all loans collected by the past administration including the N6.4billion loan by the former governor, Ohakim just two months to 2011 election for which EFCC is yet to investigate.”
“We also wish to state that the government of Imo State will at any time throw its doors wide open for EFCC and other relevant anti-graft agencies as it has nothing whatsoever to hide. However, there was palpable anxiety yesterday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, especially among serving commissioners and top government officials over the arrest and detention of the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Chike Okafor and the Accountant-General, Mr. George Eche, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N40billion loan. Meanwhile, the state Secretary of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enyinna Onuegbu urged the EFCC to spread its net and arrest every government official indicted by the ongoing investigation, adding that the administration was corrupt.
“The Okorocha government is yet to account for the over N80 billion belonging to the local councils, neither has anything on ground to show for the huge Federal Allocations received for two years of his administration.”
Okorocha’s government should be transparent enough,if he is for real.I am still waiting to see their work in Imo state as every one expected when they took over the gov.
This is rubbish and injustice?
Where was the efcc and the so called local govt secretary in the 4yrs of ohakimm? Ok, if they are alleging that LGA 80billion is unaccounted for, what of that of ohakimm’s complete 4yrs revenue from same LGA? Let every investigation and probe start from ohakiim first before rochass!
THE OPPOSITION IN IMO STATE IS ON THE WAY TO HELL BECAUSE ALL IT IS DOING IS TO EMBARRASS THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION. OHAKIM DID NOTHING IN IMO STATE EXCEPT DIGGING OUT SAND FOR SALE FROM OWERRI STEAM. SEE HOW MUC THAT USELESS VENTURE COST THE STATE.. THE OPPOSITION SHOULD LEAVE THE GOVEWRNOR ALONE TO DO THE JOB FOR WHICH HE WAS ELECTED.
Shame to you offor,you can’t. Continue deceiving the public with the latest. Fraud by the present administration,under okorocha,6.4billion,for how many months or years in office,what is holding you and your boss to probe ikedi,and he still moves freely in the streets of owerri,Noise makers,you are the next person to be arrested,and okorochas turn will wait for him after his fulstrated 4rs.criminals that exixts only on medias and pages of newspapers,……
Either the State or Federal Government should not be using Nigerians to play politics.
If okorocha and his men were genuine what are they waiting for probe to ohakim aftrall he is the number one citizen of the state. If he is not capable of laying claims against ohakim then he is the big thief but as for Offor he is too inexperienced to deceive a learned person like me.
If okorocha and his men were genuine what are they waiting for to probe ohakim aftrall he is the number one citizen of the state. If he is not capable of laying claims against ohakim then he is the big thief but as for Offor he is too inexperienced to deceive a learned person like me.
i just knw one thing for sure… rochas and his cabinet members are just out there to deceive d people of imo state.. promising free education but the education he promised to be free is now expensive to acquire… imo state university paying 120k from normal 53k… in terms of road construction, he claims to be the brain behind massive road construction but he ended up awarding the contracts to unqualified contractors thereby making the road worst than the way it was b4.. i live in imo state and i want to inform d general public that this man is out to deceive the people living in the village without basic knowledge about how a good government is supposed to be run
I have no word for your selfishness and your look-warm knowledge about past and present administration, but i can only blame it on your ignorance, who is fooling who now ? i don’t even think that you know where is Imo state.
Guess you are on the pay roll of PDP to come in here to vomit rubbish, reason well before that little peanut they pay you destroy your life, may God save Imolites from the hands of this evil ones that have swear they will not be alive see Imo progress, but its a big lie Imolites is up and doing and will fly above all her enemies who will end up soon in Bermuda triangle, Leave the Governor alone you fools, holly ghost fireeeeeeeeeeee, back to senderrrrrr
Who is deceiving who here, PDP at work n we all kw it bcos dey v lost Imo n if d present govt of Imo state v received N80 billion belonging to the local councils in 2 yrs,hw much did d previous govt of PDP in d state received in 4 yrs n wat can dey show 4 d money d received 4rm federal govt. No room 4 short n those benefiting 4rm all d short cut r now crying. Shame on PDP n their bad leaders.
Yes ooooo…..!
if Okorocha is a thief,then the entire governors in Nigeria are rogues.i had 4d first time seen what is meant by dividend of Democracy.i am an Indian n have lived here foe 13yrs.Bravo my amiable governor.
This is the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. Ohakim collected a loan of over 6 billion two months to the expiration of his administration. The EFCC did not see anything wrong with it and I wondered the project he executed with such amount in two month at the heat of the election campaign.
PDP, PDP, They should allow the only governor in the whole of South East to work since they cannot work now they are envious of the person working.
Na waooo.
Rogers n Justine white u fools shud leave Owelle Rochas alone, i hav’nt seen such hatred u bastards exbit on any issue concernin Rochas, there is nothin ur hatred wil do 2dis man Rochas; rememba dat ur parents(Rogers n Justin) died in poverty n instead of 2of u 2b hapy wit an acheiver u guys ar busy jealousin. If Rochas embezzl 80billion of LGA fund in less than 2yrs, then hw much would hav Ohakim embezzl in 4yrs? Al de loans Ohakim collectd 2dredge Nwaorie river, Oarks refinery, orlu road fly-over, oguta wonda lake,Imo airline etc all these promises were mirage but EFCC has nt seen any reason 2pickup Ohakim hmmmm wondas shal neva end in Naija a failed nation. Rochas has no reason 2fail us Imolite, rochas dd nt pay kobo durin his election is it nw he wl lobby or bribe peopl? i dey laf….. We wl welcom any constructiv criticism against Rochas. God Jehova bless Chima, Rochas, Imolite, Igbo_Jews, Biafra …amen!