Ebonyi network for good governance has been vindicated

N400m Jonathan campaign fund: EFCC arrests South-East PDP chairman, two others

-------fund traced to Ebonyi governor

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested the South-East chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Austin Umahi.

He was arrested on Monday over his alleged involvement in a N400m fraud linked to former President Jonathan’s 2015 campaign fund.

Austin, a brother to the current governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, was arrested along with two others, Chinyere Egwuche and Mabel Dikibo.

The suspects, all staff of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort, were arrested, following their refusal to collect and honour invitation by EFCC for questioning in an ongoing investigation involving both companies.

While Austin Umahi doubles as the chairman of both companies, Egwuche and Dikibo are also signatories to the companies’ accounts.

According to an EFCC source, investigations by the Commission revealed that the N400m was released by the Director of Finance, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman, to PDP Ebonyi State, for the 2015 presidential election.

The said fund was moved from Fidelity Bank, Abakaliki on 27th of March 2015, where it was initially deposited to an Access Bank Abakaliki account.

The source added that one Maxwell Umahi further moved N100m and N300m respectively, into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.

“One of the suspects, Chinyere Egwuche subsequently withdrew the N300m paid into the account of Osborn La-Palm, which according to her was used to finance further construction of Osborn La-Palm Hotels in Abakaliki, Uburu and Port Harcourt, while the N100m paid into the account of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited was transferred to a certain David Umahi Faith Foundation.

“Though investigation is still ongoing, the above mentioned companies have been traced to the Ebonyi State governor,” the source further stated.