Kehinde Fajobi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, of obstructing its investigation into a ₦6 billion fraud involving Jonathan Okunbor and Kezmith Global Ventures.
In a statement on Wednesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, alleged that Ighodalo falsely claimed Okunbor was an election tribunal witness to prevent his arrest.
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a trending video insinuating that Mr Jonathan Okunbor, a suspect being investigated for an alleged ₦6 billion fraud, was an election witness,” the statement read.
It added, “The Commission wishes to state without any equivocation that Okunbor is not a witness of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the election tribunal as claimed by Mr Asue Ighodalo.
“Rather, he is a prime suspect connected to a case of misappropriation of funds involving all the 18 local government areas of Edo State.”
According to the EFCC, approximately ₦6 billion was diverted to Kezmith Global Ventures, a company managed by Okunbor under the alias Godfrey Emode. Investigators reportedly tracked him to Eterno Hotel, where Ighodalo and others allegedly interfered with their efforts to arrest him.
The statement further noted, “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 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.”
The EFCC maintained its commitment to due process, stressing, “The Commission has no business with any Edo State election witness that has no corruption charge before it. The public is assured that Okunbor will be brought to book soon in connection with the alleged ₦6 billion fraud involving his firm, Kezmith Global Ventures.”
The anti-graft agency vowed to take necessary legal action against any individual obstructing justice.