Former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, and some chieftains
of the Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu State, were on Monday
questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The development was in line with the ongoing investigations into
the $115m (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources,
Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the build-up to the 2015 presidential
election.
Chime was alleged to have received N450m out of the N23bn.
The former governor was earlier questioned over the slush fund on June 8.
Our correspondent learnt that Chime and some of those linked to the
N450m were at the South-East Zonal office of the EFCC on Monday.
Apart from Chime, others quizzed by the anti-graft agency in Enugu
on Monday include the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, and
former chairman of the PDP campaign organisation in the state, Chief
Charles Egumgbe.
Chime drove himself to the EFCC zonal office in a black Ford sports
utility vehicle with Enugu registration number, CV 950 ENU, at 10:58
am, and left about 20 minutes later.
Like Chime, Asogwa and Egumgbe also arrived and departed separately.
During his earlier interrogation by the anti-graft agency over the
matter, Chime had reportedly denied personally disbursing the N450m.
He reportedly told detectives that he handed over the money to the
Secretary of the campaign office, Mrs. Rita Mba, who was also the
state’s Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs.
Chime reportedly explained that the money was brought by two of his
former commissioners, Joe Nmamnel and Mba, in company with Asogwa and
Prof. Osita Ogbu.
The former governor was said to have stated that he gave the money
to his orderly for safe keep and that only Mba should have access to it
to facilitate her work as secretary of the campaign secretariat.
Sources at the EFCC zonal office in Enugu told our correspondent
that Chime is expected to report again at the anti-graft agency as
investigations continue into the case.
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