…Seals off more assets
From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), yesterday, reportedly froze the account of former governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi. It also sealed off more assets belonging to the ex-governor across the state.
The operatives of the anti-graft agency, it was gathered, acted on a
petition against the former governor concerning alleged funding of
the campaign of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the
state when he fell out with his former deputy, Chief David Umahi, the
present governor of the state.
Investigations showed that assets including buildings across Abakaliki,
the Ebonyi State capital belonging to the former governor were sealed off
with a warning to all occupants to keep off.
One of his building at College of Agriculture, Abakaliki (CAS) a gigantic
hostel for students, had the mark: “Sealed, on investigation”
on the entrance and other strategic places around the building.
Also sealed are the former Governor’s first building at No 1 Okpara
Street, Abakaliki, and his residential house at the Ochudo city, (now Centenary
City).
A source at the EFCC office, Enugu who pleaded for anonymity said the action of the agency was in line with the ongoing investigation of the former governor over series of allegations bodering on misappropriation of funds.
He said the major reason for the investigation was based on the allegation leveled against the former governor that he allegedly used the
state’s funds to execute the campaign of the Labour Party in the last general election and other allegation bothering on looting the state treasury.
In June last year, the anti-graft commission had grilled the former
two-term governor along with some former cabinet members, over alleged corruption.
On January 29, this year, the EFCC was also said to have quizzed the former governor’s son, Elechi Nnanna Elechi. The younger Elechi was alleged to be the face of the family’s company – profiting from state and local governments contracts that have remained unexecuted.