A former Ebonyi State governor, Martin Elechi, was on Wednesday granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after being questioned over allegations of corruption.
The commission released the former governor on “partial bail”, asking him to return next week for further questioning, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren told PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Elechi reported to the anti-graft agency on Tuesday following an invitation by the commission two weeks ago.
His lawyer had told the EFCC that he could not make it at the originally appointed date. He returned to the EFCC on Wednesday for further questioning and was allowed to go at about 4 p.m, Mr. Uwujaren said.
The EFCC had also quizzed the former governor’s son, Elechi Nnanna Elechi, over allegations of fraud.
The younger Elechi was alleged to be the face of the family’s company – profiting from state and local governments contracts that have not been executed.
The former governor who left office on May 29 after his second term, could not face the anti-graft agency earlier since he had constitutional immunity against prosecution.
The commission had also quizzed the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Works, Cornelius Onwe, as well as the state’s Accountant General, Edwin Igbele; Commissioner for Finance, Timothy Ogbonnaya Odaa; and Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Matters, Cele Nwali.
They were all fingered in allegations of fraud regarding an Asphalt Project earmarked for the 13 local government of the state by the former governor’s administration for which millions of naira were deducted at source, from local government accounts.
