ICPC arrests 4 ex- commissioners in Kogi state

-The ex-commissioners connived with the former governor, others to embezzle N8bn

4 ex-commissioners arrested in Kogi state by ICPC

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested and detained four commissioners who served under the former Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada’s administration.

ICPC stated that the former commissioners were arrested in relation to fraud.

The spokesman of the commission, Rasheedat Okoduwa, made the ex-commissioners’ arrest known in a statement on Thursday.

Okoduwa listed the ex-commissioners to include Kayode Olowomoran (Culture and Tourism), Abdulrahman Wuya (Transport), Godwin Onama (Works) and Ali Ajuh (Budget and Planning).

The spokesperson said the suspects’ arrest came as a result of ICPC’s investigations into an alleged misuse of a N2bn SME loan they secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of Kogi state.

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According to her, they conspired with the former governor, his Accountant-General, Ibrahim Idakwo and a former Permanent Secretary in the Kogi Ministry of Commerce, Frank Onoja.

“Preliminary investigations by the Commission also revealed that the suspects allegedly partook in the mismanagement of another N8bn bond that was raised to fund 57 projects across the state.

“The large sums of monies released for the projects were allegedly far beyond the levels of work done.

“Furthermore, the suspects are alleged to have benefited from illegal deductions to the tune of N1.3bn made from the funds of 21 local government councils in the state by the same administration,” Okoduwa said.

Okoduwa said the accused individuals would remain in custody pending when they fulfill the administrative bail conditions granted them by the Commission, while the probe continues.