The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied claims that Jonathan Okunbor, a suspect under investigation for an alleged N6 billion fraud, was a witness in the ongoing Edo State election tribunal.
According to the EFCC, the allegation came from Asue Ighodalo, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, who had claimed that Okunbor was one of his witnesses in the tribunal.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, clarified that Okunbor is, in fact, the prime suspect in an ongoing investigation concerning the misappropriation of funds across all 18 local government areas of Edo State.
Oyewale stated, “The EFCC wishes to state without any equivocation that Okunbor is not a witness of the PDP in the election tribunal as claimed by Mr. Ighodalo. He is a prime suspect connected to a case of misappropriation of funds involving all the 18 local government areas of Edo State.”
The EFCC’s investigations revealed that approximately N6 billion was diverted to Kezmith Global Ventures, a company owned by Okunbor. The suspect allegedly ran the company using the identity of Godfrey Emode, a key figure in the investigation.
“Ongoing investigations showed that about N6 billion was diverted to Kezmith Global Ventures owned by Okunbor. The suspect was running the ventures using the name and identity of Mr. Godfrey Emode,” Oyewale said.
The case took a turn when Emode’s arrest led investigators to Okunbor, who was found at the Eterno Hotel during a pre-trial meeting. Ighodalo’s lawyer confirmed that Okunbor was not a witness in the tribunal matter.
Oyewale further stated, “The Commission’s investigators, in their quest to unearth the shadiness of Okunbor, arrested Emode who led them to the suspect in Eterno Hotel where a pre-trial meeting was being held. Investigators interrogated the counsel to Ighodalo on the status of Okunbor in the election tribunal matters and he clearly stated that he was not a witness in the matter.”
Despite resistance from Ighodalo and others present at the scene, EFCC officers proceeded with Okunbor’s arrest. Oyewale noted, “In spite of this, Mr. Ighodalo and his co-travellers at Eterno Hotel prevented EFCC officers from carrying out their constitutional duty and obstructed them from arresting Okunbor.”
Ighodalo reportedly insisted that Okunbor was his witness, which the EFCC saw as an attempt to aid his escape from investigators.
“The EFCC remains committed to its adherence to the rule of law and the Commission has no business with any Edo State election witness that has no corruption charge before it. The EFCC will not hesitate to bring anyone to trial, witness or no witness if it has a basis for doing so,” Oyewale added.
The EFCC emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in its operations and urged the public to disregard the misleading claims regarding Okunbor’s involvement in the tribunal.