The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday
arrested one Austin Umahi, brother to the current governor of Ebonyi State,
David Umahi, along with two others – Chinyere Egwuche and Mabel Dikibo – over a
N400million slush fund linked to the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples
Democratic Party.
The suspects, all staff of Brass Engineering & Construction
Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort, were arrested for refusing to
honour invitations by the EFCC over an ongoing investigation of both companies.
While Austin Umahi doubles as chairman of both companies,
Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo are also signatories to the companies’
accounts.
EFCC investigators alleged that the Director of Finance of the
PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Nenadi Usman released N400million to
the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP for the 2015 presidential election.
The said fund, the investigators said, was moved from Fidelity
Bank Abakaliki on March 27, 2015, to an Access Bank, Abakaliki, account, where
one Maxwell Umahi further moved N100, 000,000 and N300, 000,000 respectively
into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and
Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.
One of the suspects, Chinyere Egwuche, subsequently withdrew the
N300 million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm, which according to her
was used to finance the construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in
Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100 million paid into the
account of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred
to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.
Although investigation is still ongoing, EFCC operatives said
the companies to which the funds were transferred were traced to the Ebonyi
State governor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday
arrested one Austin Umahi, brother to the current governor of Ebonyi State,
David Umahi, along with two others – Chinyere Egwuche and Mabel Dikibo – over a
N400million slush fund linked to the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples
Democratic Party.
The suspects, all staff of Brass Engineering & Construction
Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort, were arrested for refusing to
honour invitations by the EFCC over an ongoing investigation of both companies.
While Austin Umahi doubles as chairman of both companies,
Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo are also signatories to the companies’
accounts.
EFCC investigators alleged that the Director of Finance of the
PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Nenadi Usman released N400million to
the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP for the 2015 presidential election.
The said fund, the investigators said, was moved from Fidelity
Bank Abakaliki on March 27, 2015, to an Access Bank, Abakaliki, account, where
one Maxwell Umahi further moved N100, 000,000 and N300, 000,000 respectively
into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and
Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.
One of the suspects, Chinyere Egwuche, subsequently withdrew the
N300 million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm, which according to her
was used to finance the construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in
Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100 million paid into the account
of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a
certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.
Although investigation is still ongoing, EFCC operatives said
the companies to which the funds were transferred were traced to the Ebonyi
State governor.
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