There appears to be no end to the political crisis brewing in Imo State over the bribery allegation which led to the impeachment of the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Jude Agbaso.
The family of the former Deputy Governor have alleged that the Forensic Auditors they employed have traced the missing N458 million to the accounts of the contractor, JPROS, in the United Arab Emirate, Dubai and Lebanon.
The startling revelation came from the older brother to the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Martin Agbaso, who addressed the press Thursday on the matter.
He said the family had taken the initiative to employ forensic experts in the case because of their desperate need to clear its name from the deliberate attempt to tarnish it.
He equally presented copies of his younger brother’s call log obtained from MTN, noting that no contact was established between his brother and the contractor during the period in question and reiterated that the former Deputy Governor’s impasse was politically motivated.
The revelations also showed that one of Okorocha’s special advisers and Chairman, Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Road Projects, Mr. MacDonald Akano, was on the board of the company and also its second largest shareholder.
Records at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), showed that Akano was put on the board of the company at about the same time the execution and mobilisation for the contract in question took place.
The report presented by Agbaso showed that, “Mr. Dina first paid the sum of N325 million into the Three Brother’s Concept Ltd GTB Account.
“The money was used to raise the sum of US$1,930,00 (one million, nine hundred and thirty thousand dollars), which was subsequently transferred through Dubai on February 21, 2012 to Mr. Joseph Dina’s account no: LB550014000023023 00179018010 with the Kaslik Branch of Blom Bank Sal in Lebanon.
“The purpose of the transfer as stated in the transfer document was ‘to import construction equipment’.
“The second tranche of N133,000,000 (one million and thirty-three million naira) was similarly paid into the IHSAN BDG Ltd’s account no: 1015334698 with UBA by Mr. Dina.
“Again, the money was used to raise $800,000 (eight hundred thousand dollars) and transferred to Mr. Dina’s Account no: AE60200000036374395130 with HSBC Middle East Ltd at Dubai Internet City, Sheik Zayed Rd, Dubai. “So while Mr. Dina was accusing the (former) Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso, of demanding and receiving a bribe of N458 million, the said money had been converted by Mr. Dina himself and his associates and paid into Mr. Dina’s foreign accounts in Lebanon and Dubai.”
On the ownership of the companies, he said “The Three Brother’s Concept Ltd runs a Bureau De Change and its directors are Abdulahi Lawal, Ahmadu Yanusa, Karimu Usman, Umar Abubakar and Yakubu Abdulahi. Its current shareholders are Abdulahi Lawal, Umar Abubakar and Yakubu Abdulahi. Jude Agbaso, the (former) deputy governor of Imo State, is not one of them. “The directors of Ishan Bureau De Change are Alhaji Inuwa Sabo, Abdulahi Tasiu Maikano, Haruna Saidu and Mallam Sule. The five gentlemen are also the shareholders. Again, Jude Agbaso, the (former) Deputy Governor of Imo State is not one of them.
“The directors who are also the only shareholders of JPROS Nigeria Ltd, the company whose MD is falsely accusing the (former) Deputy Governor of bribery are Joseph Dina, Aline Dina, Jean Samir Aoun and Mr. MacDonald Akano, the Special Adviser to Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Chairman of the Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Road Projects in Imo State. “Isn’t it fascinating to discover that a Director and major shareholder; indeed, the second highest shareholder in the company involved in this ugly defamation of character and wicked attempt to destroy the good name and image of the (former) Deputy Governor, is a member of Governor Okorocha’s inner circle.
“Isn’t it even more fascinating that to know that Akano stood quietly and loyally beside Mr. Dina as he blackmailed and slandered the (former) deputy governor before the members of the state House of Assembly, knowing well that his company, JPROS, was the guilty party in the matter”.
He added: “Governor Okorocha has the power as the governor of Imo State to do whatever he likes and as he deems fit. But he does not have the power to tarnish the image of my family and what is uppermost now is to clear my family name”.
Agbaso said the report of the Forensic Auditors had been handed over to the appropriate quarters, including the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) for necessary action.
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