The
Imo State Deputy Governor, Chief Jude Agbaso has denied the allegation by the
state House of Assembly that he took bribe from a contractor to award him
contract. Agbaso whom the House is threatening with impeachment said during the
weekend in Imo State that he never had any encounter with the contractor or
collected any money from him.
Imo State Deputy Governor, Chief Jude Agbaso has denied the allegation by the
state House of Assembly that he took bribe from a contractor to award him
contract. Agbaso whom the House is threatening with impeachment said during the
weekend in Imo State that he never had any encounter with the contractor or
collected any money from him.
He rather said that he knew why the Governor, Chief Rochas
Okorocha wanted him out of the way. His claim was that the fight targeted at
him was all about the 2015 gubernatorial race in the state. “The truth is that
I am a victim of power play between two powerful political figures. I heard
that there was an agreement reached between my elder brother, Chief Martin
Agbaso that the governor should be in office for one tenure and give way for
him to contest.
Okorocha wanted him out of the way. His claim was that the fight targeted at
him was all about the 2015 gubernatorial race in the state. “The truth is that
I am a victim of power play between two powerful political figures. I heard
that there was an agreement reached between my elder brother, Chief Martin
Agbaso that the governor should be in office for one tenure and give way for
him to contest.
It is possible the agreement is about to be breached and the
best they want to make sure I am out of the office at all costs.” He denied
every allegation of wrong-doing and also challenged the House to confront him
with evidence of the bribe allegation. Agbaso also said the rumour of his
resignation was unfounded as he never contemplated resigning and was still in
his office and with all official paraphernalia.
While addressing journalists, he said after the long battle and
political gaming “ I feel it a duty to address formally the good people of Imo
State who gave me their mandate a litle less than two years ago to be their
deputy governor and set the records straight that all the allegations of
wrong-doing against me that have been the issue for some time are completely
false and unfounded. I have kept quiet all along but felt it is time to state
my side of the story so that all that people hear about me would not be taken
as true.
political gaming “ I feel it a duty to address formally the good people of Imo
State who gave me their mandate a litle less than two years ago to be their
deputy governor and set the records straight that all the allegations of
wrong-doing against me that have been the issue for some time are completely
false and unfounded. I have kept quiet all along but felt it is time to state
my side of the story so that all that people hear about me would not be taken
as true.
“I am not the governor and do not award contracts and there is
no way bribe for contract award should be channeled to me.” Agbaso also said
that even after the contractor, as he heard, was quizzed on the allegation that
he denied any involvement with him or did give him money as inducement to win a
contract. “The facts are there to exonerate me of any charges being brought up
now.
no way bribe for contract award should be channeled to me.” Agbaso also said
that even after the contractor, as he heard, was quizzed on the allegation that
he denied any involvement with him or did give him money as inducement to win a
contract. “The facts are there to exonerate me of any charges being brought up
now.
If the House wants to impeach me, it should do it in a tidy way
and not trump up vain claims and charges. I know that the House has possibly
made up their mind to get me out of the way but the world should know that it
is politics and I did no wrong or took any bribe.” Meanwhile, Commissioner for
Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chinedu Offor, has denied that Agbaso had
resigned. In a statement issued yesterday, Offor said, “the attention of the
Imo State Government has been drawn to gross inaccuracies and outright lies by
some section of the media about recent events as it concerns the ongoing
investigation of corruption levelled against the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude
Agbaso by a Lebanese contractor J-Pros.
and not trump up vain claims and charges. I know that the House has possibly
made up their mind to get me out of the way but the world should know that it
is politics and I did no wrong or took any bribe.” Meanwhile, Commissioner for
Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chinedu Offor, has denied that Agbaso had
resigned. In a statement issued yesterday, Offor said, “the attention of the
Imo State Government has been drawn to gross inaccuracies and outright lies by
some section of the media about recent events as it concerns the ongoing
investigation of corruption levelled against the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude
Agbaso by a Lebanese contractor J-Pros.
“I wish to state that contrary to reports in the media, the
deputy governor continues to carry out the responsibilities of his office
and in fact, joined Governor Okorocha on inspection of projects around the
state on Friday, when speculations were rife that he has been impeached or
that his office has been sealed off.
deputy governor continues to carry out the responsibilities of his office
and in fact, joined Governor Okorocha on inspection of projects around the
state on Friday, when speculations were rife that he has been impeached or
that his office has been sealed off.
“These deliberate attempts by some paid agents masquerading as
media practitioners speak volumes of the level of desperation of some forces to
overheat the polity and drag Governor Okorocha into what is essentially an
attempt by the IMHA to determine the veracity of an allegation made against a
senior government official in line with Governor Okorocha’s agenda of zero
tolerance for corruption.
media practitioners speak volumes of the level of desperation of some forces to
overheat the polity and drag Governor Okorocha into what is essentially an
attempt by the IMHA to determine the veracity of an allegation made against a
senior government official in line with Governor Okorocha’s agenda of zero
tolerance for corruption.
“In fact, at the invitation of Sir Jude, Governor Okorocha has
severally postponed his planned trip to wade into the matter with a view of
finding out the truth through a process that is fair, lawful and
constitutional. It is, therefore, mischievous and unprofessional for some
section of the media to accuse Governor Okorocha of being behind the travails
of the deputy governor.
severally postponed his planned trip to wade into the matter with a view of
finding out the truth through a process that is fair, lawful and
constitutional. It is, therefore, mischievous and unprofessional for some
section of the media to accuse Governor Okorocha of being behind the travails
of the deputy governor.
It is a known fact that Governor Okorocha lacks the powers to
interfere in the constitutional duties of the IMHA and should not be linked to
the ongoing investigation. Governor Okorocha’s interest remains to ensure Sir
Jude gets the opportunity to prove his innocence. This is consistent with the
zero tolerance policy on corruption of the Rescue Mission administration,”
Offor said.
interfere in the constitutional duties of the IMHA and should not be linked to
the ongoing investigation. Governor Okorocha’s interest remains to ensure Sir
Jude gets the opportunity to prove his innocence. This is consistent with the
zero tolerance policy on corruption of the Rescue Mission administration,”
Offor said.
