GOVERNOR UMAHI NOT IN TROUBLE.

I read with utter amazement, stories in Saturday Vanguard and Saturday Nation that Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State is in trouble with the Economic and Financial Commission over N400m Diezani poll cash paid to the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.
In the stories, the newspapers claimed that the commission had moved to seize two hotels belonging to the governor in Abakaliki and Port Harcourt and that fronts of His Excellency had refunded N90m out the N400m.
I took my time to go through the stale stories and came to the conclusion that the one of the reporters either forgot that he had with his own pen written and published the same issue on August 31 or that he allowed himself to be used by some people in the EFFC to bring the image of my principal to disrepute.
The only difference between the old publications and these latest but stale ones is where they mentioned last (Friday) night and the use of anonymous sources.
I attach copy of the August 31 story by Vanguard and Nov. 12 story by Saturday Vanguard to show that the reporters were merely feeding their readers with old information.
1. N400m Polls Cash: EFCC arrests Ebonyi gov’s brother, 2 others
On August 31, 201612:56 am
By Soni Daniel & Emeka Mamah
ABAKALIKI—Ebonyi State Governor’s brother, Austin Umahi, is in trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for pocketing the sum of N400 million meant for compromising the 2015 presidential election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Austin, who chairs a chain of companies, was arrested along with two others-Chinyere Egwuche and Mabel Dikibo-for using some companies to divert the huge sum to themselves.
The EFCC said last night that three suspects, who are staff of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort, were arrested because of their refusal to honour its invitation for questioning over ongoing probe into how the companies got involved in the sharing of the campaign funds.
EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said: “While Austin Umahi doubles as the Chairman of both companies, Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo are also signatories to the companies’ accounts.
“Investigations by the commission revealed that the sum of N400 million was released by the Director of Finance, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman, to PDP Ebonyi State for the 2015 presidential election.”
It was, however, discovered that the said fund was immediately moved from Fidelity Bank Abakaliki on March 27, 2015, where it was initially deposited, to an Access Bank Abakaliki account. Maxwell Umahi further moved N100 million and N300 million respectively into the accounts of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.
From the account, Chinyere Egwuche subsequently withdrew the N300 million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm, which according to her was used to finance further construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while N100 million paid into the account of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.
Uwujaren said last night that although investigation was ongoing, the said companies had been traced to the Ebonyi State governor.
But the National Vice Chairman, South East zone of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and younger brother to Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, Austin Umahi yesterday debunked reports that he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Mr Umahi, in a telephone conversation with our reporter said at no time was he arrested by the Commission.
“I wasn’t arrested, there is nothing like that. Will I be arrested and I am picking my calls and talking to you. It is trash, nothing like that happened.
“What did they even say I did. I am just hearing it for the first time right now from you.
I will advise that people should properly investigate before writing their reports,” he said.
2. N23bn Diezani poll cash: Ebonyi Gov, Umahi in trouble
On November 12, 20162:55 am
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor
THE Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, is in trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Umahi Umahi. The commission said last night it had discovered that Umahi collected the sum of N400 million allocated to the PDP in the state to compromise last year’s Presidential poll but he diverted the cash to two of his companies and used it to build two hotels in Port Harcourt and Abakaliki.
The commission has already arrested and questioned many suspects, including bank officials, who have made statements linking the governor and his companies.
EFCC sources said, “This case involving some chieftains of the PDP in Ebonyi State and some companies emanated from the alleged N23,2999,705,000, disbursed by the erstwhile Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke during the 2015 Presidential election out of which N400million was traced to Ebonyi State.
“In the State, Kelechi Igwe (incumbent Deputy Governor), Fidelis Nwanwko and Ambassador Frank N. Ogbuewu collected the money to prosecute the 2015 general election.
“The duo of Fidelis Nwankwo and Ambassador Frank N. Ogbuewu were invited and they disclosed that they collected the N400million from Fidelity Bank and handed it over to Access Bank on the directive of the then Deputy Governor who is now the incumbent Governor, Engr. David Umahi. “The Operations Manager of Access Bank Abakaliki was invited and he revealed that the money was paid into the accounts of Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort Ltd and Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd. domiciled in Abakaliki.
“The statement of the accounts of the companies that were analysed disclosed that the sum of three N300million was paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort Ltd and N100 million into the account of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd and subsequently withdrawn by Chinyere Egwuche.
“The movement of the fund from one account to another and the subsequent cash withdrawal of N300million in tranches of N50million are clear features of money laundering.
“The above companies were discovered to have been incorporated by the incumbent Governor of Eonyi State in 1993 and 2011 respectively.
“Consequently, letters of invitation were written to the Managing Directors of the companies where the money was paid but the letters were returned undelivered as the addressees refused to collect them.
“Thereafter, Austin Umahi, Maxwell Umahi, Chinyere Egwuche and Mabel Dikibo were arrested. Investigation revealed that Chinyere Egwuchu and Mabel Dikibo were the signatories to the account of the companies.
“It was also discovered that one of the suspects, Chinyere withdrew the N300million paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm which, according to her was used to further construction of Osborn La-Palm hotels in Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100million paid into the account of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation. They volunteered statement and were released on bail to reliable sureties.
“In furtherance of this investigation, the property belonging to the companies were identified and the Commission’s stickers “Under Investigation” were placed on them. However, legal machineries are being set in motion to seal the companies in case the suspects refused to wholly refund the monies that were fraudulently collected by them.”
In the meantime, the sum of N90million has been refunded. Investigation is still in progress,” a top EFCC official confirmed.
I am therefore at a loss on what they stood to gain by these publications. It rankles my imagination that journalists no longer ask relevant questions or read through documents or statements made available to them by anonymous sources.
I state here once again that Governor Umahi established his business empire, including Osborn La Palm Royal Resort long before he became the deputy governor.
He had before serving as the state’s deputy governor relinquished his interests in the companies he founded as required by law.
I also use this medium to let the writers and newspapers know that the governor cannot be in trouble over the poll cash because as a sitting governor, he enjoys immunity from prosecution.
He cannot be in trouble since the money in question was neither used by him nor any of the mentioned companies. The EFFC knows this. It should therefore know where to beam its searchlight.
For those whose desire is to see His Excellency drown; I have a message for them: You will be shocked to your bone marrow.
To Umahi’s associates, admirers and all other Ebonyians who are highly pleased with the unexpected transformation of the state, I say expect more. His Excellency remains undaunted in his avowal to make the state Nigeria’s best, economically and structurally.
Emma Anya
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.