From Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
A former Senator for Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone, Dr. Emmanuel Onwe, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Federal Investigation Bureau and the Department of States Services to as a matter of urgency commence investigation into the Five Hundred Million Naira Amnesty Training Contract involving a company, Express Concerns International Ltd and one Chief Onny Igbokwe, an Abuja-based contractor.
Onwe alleged that Igbokwe was plotting to steal the mobilisation fund meant for the execution of the contract but was stopped by him.
Igbokwe, had through his lawyers, Kanu Ogbonnia .O. and Co, reportedly petitioned the Presidential Amnesty Programme; the Federal Ministry of Justice; among others, claiming that the Senator and Express Concerns International Ltd lacked the expertise and resources to train Niger Delta youths in areas of agriculture .
The contract is for the sum of N500million.
According to the petition, Igbokwe claimed he was the originator of the contract.
But during an interaction with journalists, in Abakaliki, on Friday, Onwe, who is the Director of the Agric Division of Express Concerns International Ltd, alleged that Igbokwe became aggrieved because he scuttled his criminal efforts to steal the 30 per cent mobilisation fund for the project.
According to him, Igbokwe’s intention was to poison him to avert traces of the attempted criminal diversion of the fund.
“What actually happened is he used to be my friend and we both were directed to an opportunity for a training contract with the Presidential Amnesty Programme. We put in bids around June last year, that’s 2021 and my bid succeeded and his didn’t. I was invited to make presentationt to the Presidential Amnesty Programme team, in Abuja.
“An award of contract was made to Express Concerns Intentional Ltd on the 24th of November, 2021.
“This petition he (Igbokwe) is peddling arose from the fact that he demanded N84million from me, which of course there was no way I was going to give him N84million from a contract that would not yield a profit of that amount.
“By the way, this contract is to train young people from the Niger Delta in rice farming, fish farming and poultry. ”
Onwe, who is the All Progresives Grand Alliance Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi Central, added, “Part of the claims by Igbokwe is that I have never been a farmer in my life, I had no farm and I had nothing to train these people, which is for me , a desperate and laughable allegation. This is because for the last 9 years or so I have been the single largest rice producer in Ebonyi State. The facts are verifiable.
“This is not the first time people are coming after my integrity. But as I always say, my integrity is too solid to be taken down. This is a very politically-charged season. Therefore, my suspicion is very high that a number of political opponents from various categories of contest in Ebonyi State are behind this, as they had been behind previous attempts to tarnish my image and character.
“We have made reports to security agencies and they are looking into this matter and very soon those behind this will be unraveled, because this is a racket. As a matter of fact, part of this racket are people that were involved in the illegal and criminal raiding of the home of the former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili. But we will leave that for the security agencies to handle and we believe this will happen sooner than later.
“We will sue Igbokwe for illegally and criminally tarnishing our image. We will do that. But first step first, since the matter had been reported to security agencies and since we also know that it’s possible that staff of FCMB at the branch I mentioned earlier are colliding in this matter and since it’s also important for us to resolve whatever differences we have with our business partners (that’s the Presidential Amnesty Programme); it’s very important we resolve these matters and thereafter take on the criminal investigation aspect and then consider our position in terms of sueing for libel. The company as a corporate entity has been defamed. I, as an individual, have been defamed and even Chief Daniel Okeke, has also been defamed. We are not going to leave it lie down.
“We are taking deliberate, systematic and strategic step to follow it. We are not going to rush to any actions, but this is so damaging and so serious. Trying to extort me personally of N84million without genuine and legal grounds, is something we cannot allow to lie down. It’s obvious that if Igbokwe had been allowed to steal the mobilisation money for the project (N116million), which was why he colluded with the bank officials to be the sole signatory of the account, he would have killed me. That was his plan; but thank God it never worked.
“They know me. My integrity is as solid as the rock and nothing they do will affect that. And in the fullness of time, by the time we bring these criminal blackmailers to book, we will be justified. Therefore, I’m inviting EFCC, FIB, DSS and others to come and investigate this matter.” He said.