Imo State Deputy Governor Impeached from office

Jude Agbaso

The Imo State Deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso was on Thursday, Impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly after the House uncovered evidence that he collected a bribe of 458 million naira from some contractors handling roads construction projects in Imo State.

Owing to the abandonment of some road projects in the State, the Joint Committee on State and Local Government Projects led by Mr. Stan Dara, member of Imo State House of Assembly representing Orsu Local Government Area in their investigation discovered that Agbaso, the deputy governor who was also then the Commissioner for works had demanded and collected  gratification of 458 million naira from J-PROS International Nigeria Limited (the construction company handling some major roads projects in the State).

Acting on the report of the Project Monitoring Committee, the Imo House of Assembly had set up a Special Adhoc Committee presided over by Mr Simeon Iwunze.

According to the report by the Special Adhoc Committee, Mr. Joseph Dina of J-PROS International Nigeria Limited in his testimony confirmed having given Agbaso a total sum of N458 million on request through a text message to two accounts domiciled in both GT Bank and UBA. The report further revealed that Agbaso lied severally before owning up. First, he denied ever inviting Mr. Dina of J-PROS to his house but when Dina stood his ground and mentioned to have bought a blue designer Porsche wine from London for him and how Agbaso sent his security personnel to bring him to his MCC Road residence, Agbaso owned up.

The drama was further heightened with the denial of demanding and receiving any gratification before Dina revealed the phone number with which the deputy governor made the request and the account numbers 08033444421 and the payment as follows: Three brothers Concept Limited, Bank: GT Bank Plc with Account No: 0045630151 with sort code 058266511. Amount paid is N325,000,000 in February 2012; Another N133,000,000 was paid in the month of June to IHSAN BDC Limited, Account no 1015334698 with sort code, 033153351, UBA Plc, 27, Wharf Road, Apapa, Lagos State

The House, having failed to reach the Deputy governor owing to the latter’s absence from office and his official residence, had resolved to serve him an impeachment notice through other means; electronic and print media and pasting such at his official residence after a plenary session which was held last week.