The immediate past Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim has made it clear that he has no Skeleton in his Cupboard and therefore has no reason to evade invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which necessitated the embarrassment meted out on him by the Anti-graft Agency, by storming his Abuja residence at an ungodly hour with photographers and cameramen yesterday.
In a press statement signed by Emmanuel Dike, Special Assistant to the former Governor, Ohakim made it clear that he has nothing to fear and therefore could not have avoided EFCC invitation, but stated that he was outside the Country when EFCC’s invitation came, and formally communicated his inability to honour the Agency’s invitation, and promised to come when he returns from his medical trip overseas.
Ohakim said the invitation was in connection with a petition written against him to the EFCC by a Group by name, Alliance For Good Governance.
He maintained that on arriving Nigeria, he informed EFCC and communicated them the day he will honour their invitation which was acknowledged, and therefore was surprised when the Agency stormed his house on Thursday, 18 June, (yesterday) with Press photographers and Television cameramen.
“I got wind of the invitation while I was away on a medical trip in the United Kingdom and upon return to the Country, wrote the Agency to explain why I could not meet the earlier date.” Ohakim said.
The Release went on “On Wednesday, June 17, Dr Ohakim again wrote the Commission seeking for a new date in July on Medical grounds. The letter was duly acknowledged by the Agency the same day but to his greatest surprise, officials of the Agency stormed his residence in Asokoro Abuja, the following morning, Thursday, 18 June, with Press photographers and Television men.”
Ohakim however said that the current Petition borders on previous investigations the EFCC had carried out about four years ago when he left office as Governor of Imo State, adding that he “has no reasons, whatsoever to evade the Agency because he is not only a Law-abiding Senior Citizen of Nigeria but also has no Skeleton in his cupboard, having been investigated before by the Commission on the same issue, and nothing incriminating was found against him.”
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that Ohakim’s present harassment is politically motivated, following the last elections in Imo State, where he stood behind his Political Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to deliver all the Candidates in his Ward, Constituency and LGA.
Fingers are being pointed at a Southeast Governor, and a former Lawmaker as the masterminds of the latest plot to cow the former Imo State Chief Executive.
“This is political. In the end nothing would be found against him. When you petition EFCC, they must invite the fellow. The former Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi was invited the other day. The only difference was how EFCC dramatised the Ohakim issue.” A source told Trumpeta.
Meanwhile, Ohakim who spoke to Trumpeta at about 8pm yesterday, said he is back in his house at Abuja.
