There
is palpable tension in Imo State, following moves by the House of Assembly to
impeach the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso. His alleged offence is a scandal
over contract kick back of N458million. He is alleged to have received
gratification to the tune of N458million from one of the major contractors –
JPROS International Nigeria Limited – which has led to the abandonment of some
road projects in the state.
is palpable tension in Imo State, following moves by the House of Assembly to
impeach the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso. His alleged offence is a scandal
over contract kick back of N458million. He is alleged to have received
gratification to the tune of N458million from one of the major contractors –
JPROS International Nigeria Limited – which has led to the abandonment of some
road projects in the state.
Consequently, the Imo State
House of Assembly has passed a vote of no confidence on the deputy governor.
The House has also commenced impeachment proceedings against him. Saturday
Newswatch learn’t that a committee of the whole House has deliberated on the
report of the Ad-hoc Committee instituted to investigate the root cause of the
stoppage and abandonment of work in the Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu municipalities.
House of Assembly has passed a vote of no confidence on the deputy governor.
The House has also commenced impeachment proceedings against him. Saturday
Newswatch learn’t that a committee of the whole House has deliberated on the
report of the Ad-hoc Committee instituted to investigate the root cause of the
stoppage and abandonment of work in the Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu municipalities.
The panel reportedly found out
that the contractor abandonment the projects because the deputy governor
allegedly demanded and received financial gratification from the contractor to
the tune of N458 million.
that the contractor abandonment the projects because the deputy governor
allegedly demanded and received financial gratification from the contractor to
the tune of N458 million.
According to the report, the
gratification demanded by Agbaso was paid in two instalments to the two
accounts nominated by him – Account No. 0045630151 with GTbank and another
Account No. 1015334698 with UBA. The report stated that during interrogation
the Chairman of JBROS, Mr. Joseph Dina, said the deputy governor gave him
(Dina) account numbers via his (Agbaso’s) telephone numbers, and directed him
to pay N458million into those accounts.
gratification demanded by Agbaso was paid in two instalments to the two
accounts nominated by him – Account No. 0045630151 with GTbank and another
Account No. 1015334698 with UBA. The report stated that during interrogation
the Chairman of JBROS, Mr. Joseph Dina, said the deputy governor gave him
(Dina) account numbers via his (Agbaso’s) telephone numbers, and directed him
to pay N458million into those accounts.
He confirmed that he actually
paid N325 million in favour of Three Brothers Concept Ltd into account number
0045630151 with the GTBank in February 2012, on the receipt of the N1.035
billion, and another N133 million in June of the same year, into IHSAN BDC Ltd
account number 1015334698 at the UBA Plc.
paid N325 million in favour of Three Brothers Concept Ltd into account number
0045630151 with the GTBank in February 2012, on the receipt of the N1.035
billion, and another N133 million in June of the same year, into IHSAN BDC Ltd
account number 1015334698 at the UBA Plc.
Based on the findings of the
committee, it recommended and the House adopted same “that a vote of no
confidence be passed on the deputy governor for acts unbecoming of his person
and office; that the Head of Service should immediately commence disciplinary
action in accordance with civil service rules against the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Works, Mr. Alex Nlebedum, Director of Planning, Research and
Statistics and Resident Engineer attached to the contract, for criminal
negligence in the performance of their duties and report to the House of
Assembly within 14 days; and that the state and its local governments should
blacklist JPROS International Nig. Limited from doing business with them in
futures after completion of the existing contracts.”
committee, it recommended and the House adopted same “that a vote of no
confidence be passed on the deputy governor for acts unbecoming of his person
and office; that the Head of Service should immediately commence disciplinary
action in accordance with civil service rules against the Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Works, Mr. Alex Nlebedum, Director of Planning, Research and
Statistics and Resident Engineer attached to the contract, for criminal
negligence in the performance of their duties and report to the House of
Assembly within 14 days; and that the state and its local governments should
blacklist JPROS International Nig. Limited from doing business with them in
futures after completion of the existing contracts.”
The House also directed the
State Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice to take measures to ensure
immediate recovery of N200 million, being over payment to JPROS International
Nigeria Limited on the contract.
State Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice to take measures to ensure
immediate recovery of N200 million, being over payment to JPROS International
Nigeria Limited on the contract.
The deputy governor was
reported to have said that the ploy by the governor was to use the Speaker of
the State House of Assembly, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, and other members to
rubbish his image and replace him with his Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere.
reported to have said that the ploy by the governor was to use the Speaker of
the State House of Assembly, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, and other members to
rubbish his image and replace him with his Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere.
Source: Daily Newswatch
