The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) quizzed former governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Martins Elechi for eight hours yesterday, while former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, will also be appearing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja today.
Furthermore, in a move to ensure that former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema, gives account of how he spent the state’s resources while in power, the EFCC has invited four top officials of the state government for questioning over some financial transactions.
As for Elechi, a source in the commission who spoke to LEADERSHIP, said Elechi arrived the commission at 10am and was quickly ushered into the interrogation room where he was questioned from 10am to 6pm.
Some of the allegations against the former governor include the theft of millions of naira in the asphalt contract for the 13 Local Government Secretariats and Headquarters.
Till date, only six out of the 13 LGs executed the contract though monies were approved and paid for all the LGs, according to the petition. The contract was also allegedly awarded to the son of the former governor, Elechi Nnanna Elechi.
Also, the former governor was questioned concerning the expenditure of funds earmarked for the centenary celebration.
Towards the celebration, a supervisory committee under the Commissioner for Local Government, Celestine Nwali, allegedly deducted the sum of N1million from each of the 13 LGs for the purchase and production of T-Shirts for the celebration but there was no evidence of T-shirts produced for the celebration.
Also, there are issues arising from alleged deductions from stabilisation fund account of the state government (i.e. one third of the state revenue) for the financing of Labour Party.
A concerned indigene of the state, had in a petition told the EFCC that Elechi awarded contracts to his family company managed by his son, Nnanna. Contracts from the state and local governments running into millions of naira remain unexecuted a month after the governor vacated Government House, Abakalaiki.
