By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has debunked claims that Jonathan Okunbor, a suspect in a N6 billion fraud case, was a witness in the ongoing Edo State election tribunal. According to the EFCC, Okunbor is actually a prime suspect in an ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of funds across all 18 local government areas of Edo State.
As stated by the commission, the People’s Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, allegedly claimed that Jonathan Okunbor, a suspect in a N6 billion fraud case, was one of his witnesses in the election tribunal. However, commission is stating categorically that Okunbor is actually a prime suspect in their investigation.
A statement made available to newsmen by the Efcc’s spokesman Dele Oyewale reveals that;
“ongoing investigations showed that about N6billion was diverted to Kezmith Global Ventures owned by Ogunbor. The suspect was running the ventures using the name and identity of Mr. Godfrey Emode.
“the Commission’s investigators, in their quest to unearth the shadiness of Ogunbor, arrested Emode who led them to the suspect in Eterno Hotel where a pre-trial meeting was being held.
Oyewale disclosed that “Investigators interrogated the counsel to Ighodalo on the status of Ogunbor in the election tribunal matters and he clearly stated that he was not a witness in the matter.
Oyewale noted that “In spite of this, Mr. Ighodalo and his co-travellers at Eterno Hotel prevented EFCC officers from carrying out their constitutional duty and obstructed them from arresting Ogunbor. Specifically, Ighodalo insisted that Ogunbor was his witness when it was obvious that he only wanted to aid his escape from the Commission’s investigators.
Oyewale assured that “The EFCC remains committed to its adherence to the rule of law and the Commission has no business with any Edo State election witness that has no corruption charge before it. The EFCC will not hesitate to bring anyone to trial, witness or no witness, if it has a basis for doing so.
“The public is assured that Ogunbor will be brought to book soon in connection with the alleged N6billion fraud involving his firm, Kezmith Global Ventures” he said
