It was gathered on Sunday that the withdrawals from the account of the state government were made in the last three years. A top official of the commission, revealed on Sunday, the “curious” withdrawals violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
He stated, “In all, we are investigating cash withdrawals totaling N117bn from the Rivers State accounts in the last three years. The manner the money was withdrawn was suspicious. The EFCC source, who cited some of the withdrawals, which he said were curious, said 45 different cheques were issued in the name of one person on June 8, 2015.
According to him, a total of N450m were withdrawn from the state government account in the Zenith Bank that day. He also gave an example of total withdrawal of N500m on June 9, 2015 through 50 different cheques.
It was learnt the commission was on the trail of four different suspects over the suspicious withdrawals from the Zenith Bank by the Rivers State Government. It was gathered that the EFCC would this week invite the Director of Finance and Administration in the Rivers State Government House, Similari Fubura, for interrogation over the withdrawals. The EFCC source said some senior members of staff of the Zenith Bank were invited by the commission last week, but he could not confirm the exact date of the invitation and whether they had honoured it.
But the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that no official of the Rivers State Government will appear before the EFCC over what he called politically-motivated investigations until the commission approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the 2007 judgment barring the commission from investigating the state.
A statement on Sunday signed by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, quoted Governor Wike as describing the alleged action of the EFCC as a political witch-hunt. He said "We are not afraid of their probe and they have no power to probe us. No government official will appear before the EFCC until they set aside the court judgment of Rivers State Government against them in 2007. We cannot be intimidated.
From punch
It's gonna be a long battle
ReplyDeleteI want to ask, does it mean no governor on the platform of APC has dirty dealings with their state money for the past three years they all got into power? Why are the EFCC making this whole corruption fight to look selective and vindictive?
ReplyDeleteDo they know how much tax payers money Rochas wasted on those status? What about allegations on El Rufal and their likes? This is where my annoyance comes from this agencies. There should be no sacred cow, all should be treated accordingly.
Has EFCC investiagted Buhari and Romtini Amaechi withdraelsw and hiding money in Ikoyi etc? They are looking for ways to implicate this man. They will alwsya fail!.
ReplyDeleteAbegi, if it means kicking him out of Rivers State govt house will stop this black soot. Pls let them do so. Though he is doing well so far, whoever sits there will also do same at least first term.
ReplyDeleteHealth comes first. I'm on my third set of antibiotics just cos of this soot matter. And don't come here asking me if he is the one doing it. He is the governor of the state so he is to look after everyone and everything. Just as we all call Buhari over thing.
there has been no soot for over 2 months
DeleteThey are looking for every means to indict HE Nyesome Wike but devil pass una. Wike is working, Rivers is working. EFCC should go after Stella's boo, the pussy cat of ubiama that removed even spoon from Government House.
ReplyDeleteThey should also ask why millions was spent for dinner to host kongi! EFCC your attention is needed in Kogi state.
Stellz dont use my comment to cook Owoh soup.