EFCC quizzes Chime again over N450m

EFCC Officials

The immediate past governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, and some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state were on Monday questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The questioning was in line with ongoing investigations into the $115m (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

Chime was alleged to have received N450m out of the N23bn.

The former governor was earlier questioned over the slush funds on June 8.

Our correspondent saw Chime and some of those linked to the N450m at the South-East Zonal office of the EFCC on Monday.

Apart from Chime, others quizzed by the anti-graft agency in Enugu on Monday included the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, and a former chairman of the PDP Campaign Organisation in the state, Chief Charles Egumgbe.

Chime drove himself to the EFCC zonal office in a black Ford Sports Utility Vehicle with Enugu number plate CV 950 ENU at 10.58am and left about 20 minutes later.

Like Chime, Asogwa and Egumgbe also arrived at the commission’s office and departed separately.

During his earlier interrogation by the anti-graft agency over the matter, Chime had reportedly denied personally disbursing the N450m.

He was said to have told detectives that he handed over the money to the Secretary of the campaign office, Mrs. Rita Mba, who was also the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs.

Chime explained that the money was brought by two of his former commissioners, Joe Nmamnel and Mba, in company with Asogwa and Prof. Osita Ogbu.

The former governor was said to have stated that he gave the money to his orderly for safe keep and that only Mba should have access to it to facilitate her work as secretary of the campaign secretariat.

Sources at the EFCC zonal office in Enugu told our correspondent that Chime was expected to report again at the anti-graft agency as investigations continue into the case.