250 bank accounts: Activists protest, seek EFCC investigation

A civil rights organisation under the aegis of Coalition for the Advancement of Good Governance (CAGG) on Wednesday took to the streets demanding the arrest of ex-governor Roachas Okorocha’s aide should not be swept under the carpet.

The group said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should also probe the alleged maintenance of 250 Bank accounts by the former administration in Imo State.

The organisation specifically called on the EFCC not to allow the case of Casmir Uzoho, former accountant general of Imo State arrested for allegedly laundering N1.O5 billion not to be swept under the carpet.

The CAGG was reacting to a recent claim by Imo State House of Assembly that the former governor allegedly operated the accounts while in office, saying it marked the height of financial recklessness under his regime.

But Okorocha had denied the allegation that he operated 250 bank accounts.

The Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Okechukwu Onyekanma, had moved a motion authorising the state Auditor-General to put together an independent committee of forensic experts to investigate the 250 bank accounts allegedly operated by the administration of  Rochas Okorocha in the state in the last eight years as governor.

The National Convener of CAGG, James Okonkwo, told journalists in Abuja that a thorough investigation by EFCC would unravel many hidden issues.

He adduced the arrest of the former Accountant-General by the EFCC as proof enough for the alleged profligacy under the former governor.

“In Imo under Okorocha, there was absolute financial recklessness, gross fiscal indiscipline, contract bazaar to family members of the then governor. To clearly understand how terrible the situation was is to note that the state government before May 29 2019 had over 250 bank accounts.

“To demonstrate the pillaging of the state, the EFCC arrested the then acting Accountant-General of Imo State, Casmir Uzoho on March 8, 2019  for  allegedly  laundering N1.050 billion for the former governor. We appeal to the EFCC not to throw this and other grievous financial crimes against the people of Imo state by the immediate past government into the waste bin of history”, Okonkwo stated.

The organisation also alleged that there had been ceaseless propaganda against the current administration of Governor Emeka Ihedioha by those who lost out in the last governorship election in Imo State.