YOU TOOK N458M BRIBE, IMO HOUSE TELLS DEP. GOV AGBASO

Despite denials by the embattled Imo State Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, that he did not collect N458 million bribe from the Managing Director of J-Pros International Nigeria Ltd, Mr Joseph Dina, the House of Assembly yesterday maintained that a special committee of the House had indicted him of the offence.

Agbaso had over the weekend cried out that the House’s bid to impeach him was politically-motivated, citing an agreement reached by Governor Rochas Okorocha with his elder brother, Chief Martin Agbaso, on 2015 Imo governorship slot to be the cause of his travails.

But the House reacting yesterday to the deputy governor’s claim in a statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Dr Acho Ihim, said Sir Jude’s travails “had nothing to do with 2015, ethnic and zonal politics or indeed weeping up undue sentiments.”

The House, therefore, said that it is “mischievous, sacrilegious and cheap blackmail for anybody or indeed a group of persons to try to divert attention from the real issues at stake.” The lawmakers vowed that it would not allow external forces to influence the House’s constitutional duties.

Stating how the deputy governor allegedly got himself entangled, the House said that a state and local government joint monitoring committee was established about six months ago to monitor the construction of roads in the three Senatorial zones and Sir Jude as the Commissioner for Works and Transport worked with the committee and even inspected project sites with them.

According to the House, “the state and local government committee led by Hon. Stan Dara submitted its report on the floor of the House in February 2013. That the report of the state and local government joint monitoring committee indicted the following construction companies: Timik Nig Ltd; J-Pros International Nig Ltd and others.

“That due to the indictment of the afore-mentioned companies, another special adhoc committee led by Hon Simon Iwunze was set-up to find out why the construction companies failed or abandoned their project sites.” The House said that the companies were invited by the committee and queried on questioned why they abandoned their sites.

Mr Dina of J-Pros International told the committee that he abandoned his site because Agbaso allegedly demanded and collected N458 million from him. This, the deputy governor, has since denied.

Source: Sun