WOMBO, GBANDE IN HOT SOUP AS THEIR ACCOUNTS ARE FROZEN

News reaching Tion's blog has it that
an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court yesterday ordered the immediate freezing of the bank accounts of former Benue State Finance Commissioner, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia, and 12 others recently arrested and detained in connection with their indictment by the Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry.

The court gave the order while ruling on an exparte motion brought before it by lawyers of police detectives handling the investigation into the matter.

Impeccable judicial sources confirmed that 13 of the 52 persons indicted for looting N107 billion from the coffers of the Benue State Government under Governor Gabriel Suswam have been affected by the court order.

These, according to the sources, include former Special Adviser, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Solomon Wombo, former Permanent Secretary at the Bureau, Mr. Asen Sambe, former Accountant, Mr. Isaiah Ipevnor as well as former chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Comrade Richard Gbande.

It has also been confirmed that the order has been served on all the affected banks.

The Benue State Government had forwarded the white paper on the report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the police for further necessary action.

The police, believed to be acting on behalf of the anti-graft bodies and the state government, arrested 13 persons last week including those mentioned and took them to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for interrogation.

They have however, being granted police bail after giving statements pending their arraignment in court.

Reacting to the development, State Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Mr. Michael Gusa, expressed the determination of the state government to follow due process in the recovery of the looted funds.

He stated that when recovered the funds would be used to meet government obligations including payment of salary arrears and retirement benefits owed pensioners as well provision of critical infrastructure.