The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun the probe of the administration of a former Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, for alleged corruption.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the commission had invited Suswam to appear before its economic governance unit to respond to allegations bordering on economic crimes.
Suswam, a two term governor of Benue State between 2007 and 2015, is billed to appear before the EFCC on Monday.
The former governor is expected to make clarifications on allegations of abuse of office, diversion of public funds, embezzlement and fraud and others.
Already, operatives of the commission had grilled the former Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia, who served under Suswam in relation with allegations of fraud, embezzlement, abuse of office, diversion of public funds and others.
A top operative of the commission, who confided in our correspondent, said that Oklobia arrived at the EFCC on Friday by 10 am and was immediately subjected to rigorous interrogation.
The former commissioner was still being grilled as of the time of filing this report by 5pm.
The source said, “EFCC on Friday grilled a former Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia.
“The anti-graft agency had invited Oklobia, who served under Mr. Gabriel Suswam, a former Benue State governor, to defend the allegations of diversion of public funds, abuse of office, embezzlement and fraud while he was in office.
“Oklobia arrived the EFFC office in Abuja at about 10.00am, where his statement was obtained under caution based on his complicity in the allegations.
“Meanwhile, Suswam is also expected to appear before the EFCC for interrogation on same allegations on Monday, October 12, 2015.”
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone on Friday that Oklobia was at the commission to respond to an invitation extended to him but would not say anything further.
He said, “It is true that the former Benue State Commissioner for Finance was at the commission to honour to an invitation.” PUNCH
