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Ex-gov Udenwa suspects foul play as EFCC claims he jumped bail

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Former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa says he suspects foul play over the way and manner the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accused him of jumping bail.

The governor, who said he has always made sure he kept appointments with the commission, wondered why EFCC will turn round to accuse him of deliberately and consistently refusing to honour invitations.

Udenwa disclosed this in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Peter Kalu, explaining that he was shocked to read in the media that he was arrested for failing to keep appointments with the anti-graft commission.

The statement reads in part, ‘’Our attention has been drawn to the report in several media, both electronic and print alleging that Chief Achike Udenwa was arrested and detained by EFCC on the grounds that he failed to keep to his bail condition.

‘’We may not have responded to this but for the numerous enquiries from the media and other members of the public. Also the above reason is very grave and portrays His Excellency as unreliable and may have other sinister motives for not reporting when needed to do so and puts his guarantor in jeopardy”.

Kalu disclosed that Udenwa had applied and obtained permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, consequent upon which, the commission released his international passport.

“The commission scheduled his next visit to be August 13, 2016. This date was agreed by both parties, not realising that it was a Saturday, a non-working day by the commission. On return, he contacted the officer in charge and agreed a new date of Thursday August 18.

Read also: EFCC arrest ex-gov Udenwa over N350m Jonathan campaign fund

“Surprisingly, on Tuesday August 16, His Excellency, while in Port Harcourt for the PDP convention, got a call from his guarantor, that he was urgently required to report to EFCC Lagos office by 10am on Wednesday August 17, the day of the PDP convention and a day before his scheduled reporting day. He obliged.

‘’On reporting, he met another officer, whom he was directed to see. She immediately confronted His Excellency with the fact that he has deliberately and consistently refused to honour invitations and could no longer be reached.

‘’This was shocking, as all my dealings with the commission should be in the file. This was his fifth visit to the Lagos office and there has been no case of failure to report on appointed date. This action appears premeditated, following the sequence of events and the speed with which the press was informed”, the statement read.

EFCC searchlight has been on Udenwa over claims that he received N350m from Senator Nenadi Usman, the Director of Finance of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, during the build-up to the 2015 presidential elections.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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