The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has cleared the former deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso over his alleged involvement in a N458 million bribery allegation connected to a N1.5 billion scam awarded to one JPROS Construction.
The former deputy Governor was unanimously impeached by members of the Imo House of Assembly after being accused of collecting said bribe from Joseph Dina, the owner of JPROS.
However the EFCC which began the investigation on the instance of Agbaso, has cleared him of any fraudulent dealings regarding the transaction.
Interestingly, the EFCC discovered that the funds meant for the repair and construction works of the road was diverted by the contractor to Dubai and Lebanon, instead of for the benefit of the people of Imo state.
EFCC’s Director of Operations, Olaolu Adegbite, in a letter dated November 27th, 2013 shed more light on the matter.
t was entitled: “Formal Request for Investigation of Mr Joseph Dina of JPROS International Nigeria Ltd, a Construction Company located at 11, Umezuruike Street, opposite Umezuruike Hospital, Owerri, Imo State.”
The letter addressed to Agbaso read: “We refer to your letter dated 21st March, 2013 on the above subject and hereby provide our findings so far into the case.
“Road contracts for the sum of one and a half billion naira awarded to JPROS International Nig. Ltd was alleged to have engendered fraudulent bribe payments of N458 million by the Managing Director of JPROS, one Joseph Dina to you as the then Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Works.
“In furtherance of the investigation, evidence adduced from interview of key officials of Imo State government and other important witnesses, as well as documents obtained from relevant financial institutions confirmed that the sum of N1.305,000,000.00 was paid to JPROS to execute the Warehouse Orlu Road Junction, Odunze Street, Aba Road and Old Nekede Road projects within Owerri metropolis before mobilisation to the sites.
“The total sum of $5,538,830 USD was found to have been remitted to the personal accounts of Dina in Dubai and Lebanon. There is no single evidence so far that suggested that you benefitted from the funds.
“In his statement to the commission on 28th March, 2013, Dina revealed that he never gave any money to you or any other official of the state government over the contracts, which are yet to be fully executed as at the last visit of our officers in April 2013.
“The commission’s legal department is working on the case file with a view to taking appropriate legal action, please.”