Imo deputy governor accused of N400m fraud
The Imo State House of Assembly, on Thursday, voted to impeach the state's Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso, over alleged contract abuse and fraud.
Following a petition submitted to the House, an Adhoc Committee, chaired by Simeon Iwunze, had probed the cause(s) of stoppage of work in some state roads by the JP. Ross Contracting Limited. In their findings, the committee reported that the Agbaso, who also doubles as Commissioner of the Ministry of Works, received gratification to tune of N458 million from the contractor, paid into two separate accounts in two instalments of N325 million in February and N133 million in June,2012.
Evidence presented by the committee include notice of fund transfers and text messages from the company boss, Joseph Dinar, sent to the phone number - 08033144421 - belonging to Agbaso.
The committee also alleged that the deputy governor paid the contractor in excess of N200 million above the renegotiated sum of N1.1 billion and with a promise to facilitate other jobs to the company.
Following the report submitted by the committee, the House, presided over by Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu, having reviewed the report, found Agbaso to have "compromised and abused his office by corrupt enrichment, an act considered contrary to the Constitution of Nigeria" and immediately passed a no confidence vote on him and collated the required signatures for his impeachment.
The Permanent Secretary in the Works Ministry, Alex Nlebedim, was referred to the state's Head of Service for disciplinary actions; while the contractor was blacklisted from further contracts in the state.
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