The Economic and Financial
Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has
arrested a popular
Abuja socialite who is a
top official of
the Nigerian Prisons Service,
Dr (Mrs)
Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte. The
suspect, a
Grade Level 14 Officer with
the Federal
Ministry of Finance seconded
to the
Nigerian Prison Service as
Head, Capital
Accounts, was picked up
Tuesday May 6 by
operatives of the anti graft
agency. And for
several hours, she was
grilled by
investigators over
allegations bordering on
corruption, abuse of office
and money
EFCC officials said they
received tip-off
regarding the suspects
lifestyle which was
inconsistent with her
position as a public
servant on a monthly salary
of (N121,460)
($751).
The suspect owns several
exotic cars and
properties scattered over Abuja.
Among her
properties is a palatial
mansion, a duplex
with two-bedroom Boys
Quarters at Sun
City Estate, Abuja and
another duplex at
Karu Extension, Abuja, which
is nearing
completion.
Three luxury automobiles were
recovered
from her at the time of
arrest. They include
a Mercedes Benz ML 350 4matic
wagon,
Mercedes Benz GL 500 SUV and
a Toyota
Sienna.
EFCC sources said Imaobong's
arrest was
triggered by intelligence
report on
suspicious inflow of huge
funds into her
account with a new generation
bank.
Close scrutiny of the account
by
investigators literally
opened a can of
worms, as it came to light
that the suspect
is the promoter and signatory
to the
accounts of three companies:
Abasiaga
Global Resources Limited, Abasiono
Nigeria
Limited and Ememima Global
Ventures
Limited, the companies were
established
after she was posted to the
Nigerian Prison
Service and all the directors
are her
children (Dr. Etsu Daniel,
Eme Faith and
Uwen David).
She is also the owner of two
other
companies- Darima Properties
and ID
Petroleum
Sources also revealed that several
cash and
cheque deposit into the
accounts of these
companies and the personal
account of
Imaobong in Zenith and Access
bank could
not be justified. The
accounts of her
companies are said to have
recorded an
inflow of not less than
N200million
between 2009 and now.
Another startling discovery
by investigators
for which the suspect has
failed to provide
an explanation, is the nearly
N60million
she paid in various branches
into the
account of Redeem Christian
Church of
God, a prominent pentecostal
church in
Karu, a suburb of Abuja. ‘There
are
instances in which she paid
N5m, N7m and
N6m into the church’s
account. Obviously
this cannot be tithe an EFCC
investigator
told SaharaReporters.
She must explain the source
of the funds
and the purpose for which the
payments
were made”,
one of the investigators who
pleaded not to be named
because he was
not authorized to speak on
the matter said.
Equally shocking, is the
discovery of five
names that consistently (on
monthly basis)
paid money into the private
accounts of
Imaobong at Zenith and Access
bank since
she arrived at the Nigerian
Prisons Service
as Head, Capital Accounts.
At press time, the socialite
was still facing
interrogators, unable to
explain her sudden
wealth. Sources informed
SaharaReporters
that she told her
interrogators that she
made her money doing
contracts, contrary
to provisions of the public
service rule that
forbids a serving officer to
establish
companies or prospect for
contracts.
Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson
Uwujaren
while confirming the arrest
warned public
officers engaged in corrupt
practices to
desist or risk the wrath of
the law. He said
the agency was determined to
ensure that
officers who abuse their
positions for self
enrichment are brought to
book.
He equally pleaded with the
members of
the public to stop
celebrating corruption by
asking questions when it is
obvious that the
lifestyle of certain persons
can not be
supported by their known
sources of
income.
Source:Sahara Reporters
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