EFCC arrests Ikedi Ohakim, ex-Imo gov over corruption

Abuja – Former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged corruption while in office.

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde

He was arrested around 8am on Thursday from his residence in Asokoro District of Abuja, after failing to honour an invitation from the commission on Wednesday.

An official of the Commission confirmed the arrest to Vanguard in a telephone interview, saying Ohakim was still being quizzed as at the time of filing the story.

It was not clear if he would be allowed to go on bail.

Ohakim was arrested by agents of the commission to shed more light on the alleged transfer of the state funds to acquire choice property in many locations, a charge he flatly denied when confronted with the evidence.

The EFCC is said to be preparing charges against the former governor having been convinced by the evidence provided by former key officials in the government, who were previously arrested and interrogated by the agency.

The arrest of Ohakim coincided with the summon extended to former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido to appear before the operatives of the commission to explain issues relating to the alleged siphoning of state funds by him during his tenure.

Although EFCC did not ascribe any specific amount to Lamido, it accused the former governor of making some payments for jobs done to companies said to have relationship with him and his family.

Lamido, who was abroad at the time the invitation was sent to him, quickly returned to Nigeria on Monday and presented himself to the commission on Thursday, saying that he had not committed any offence to warrant running away from the interrogators.

The former governor is said to have stood his grounds that he did not commit any financial impropriety during his tenure and would always make himself available whenever the operatives needed answers from him on the way he ran Jigawa State for eight years.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the invitation of Lamido and his appearance on Thursday as well as the arrest of Ohakim.

 

EFCC arrests Ikedi Ohakim, ex-Imo gov over corruption