N458m contract scam: court orders police to produce Dina, J-PROS boss

An Owerri Magistrate court presided by Justice Victoria Isiguzo has ordered the police to produce Mr. Joseph Dina, the Managing Director of J-PROS Int'l Limited to face criminal charges filed against him and his company by the Imo State government.
Mr. Dina is accused of obtaining money from the State government under false pretenses.
The suit as filed by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner, Barr. Soronnadi Njoku on behalf of the

PDP Chieftains offered me N3bn as bribe to impeach Okorocha- Uwajimogu

The embattled Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajumogu, has revealed how the elder brother of the impeached Deputy Governor, Martin Agbaso, and some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly offered him N3 billion to impeach the State governor, Rochas Okorocha.
Speaking during an interview with some journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Uwajumogu, alleged that

Imo State to celebrate Freedom Day May 6th

Imo State government has disclosed plans to celebrate what it described as ‘Imo Freedom day’ as well as the second year anniversary of Governor Rochas Okorcha.

The planning committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere (MFR) has lined up several activities that will ensure maximum participation by Imolites in the event which will commence on May 6th.and culminate into the Two-year anniversary celebration of Governor Okorocha-led administration on May 29th.

Describing the Imo Freedom Day celebration and launching of New Imo projects as key substance of democracy, Governor Okorocha urged political appointees to ensure that Imo people are well mobilized for the event.

He noted that much has been achieved in the area of infrastructural development and other critical sectors which will be show-cased to the people during the celebration.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Owerri, Dr. Kachi Nwoga used the occasion to intimate the Governor on what his committee has done so far preparatory to the launching of the new Imo Projects.

He explained that the New Imo Project includes the physical environment, repainting of structures in identical patterns, relocation of artisans to industrial clusters and re-organizing various motor parks.

Dr. Nwoga stressed the need to re-introduction of effective transport system in Owerri as well as maintaining zero tolerance for street trading.

GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA - APC IS A CHILD OF NECESSITY

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, Wednesday stated that the emergence of the opposition parties' coalition, All Progressives Congress (APC), had become 'a child of necessity' at present, declaring that the emergence of APC would be in the best interest of the country's politics, democracy and Ndigbo.

The Okorocha made disclosure in Abuja, while addressing journalists after inspecting the on-going construction work of the state liaison building in the city.

While admitting that his teaming up with APC is to wrest power from the People Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre, the governor said: "It's not in doubt that I'm in APC. All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) is no longer the issue; we have moved beyond that and we are talking about APC now. Of course you will agree with me that there are factions of APGA; one of the factions is the one being led by me, the other one is the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi-led faction and the one led by Chief Victor Umeh.

"On my part, we have said the formation of APC is for the better interest of Ndigbo, national politics, and democracy. Now we have a bigger party which would be a national party, that is why the APC became necessary."

Continuing, he said: "If you look at it, the Congress for Progress Change (CPC), All Nigeria's Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and APGA were all regional parties. And if all these regional parties decide to form a mega party, then it is wise for every small party to join this big party knowing fully that you will be inconsequential if you remain with your tiny regional sentiment, and I think this nation should go beyond regional sentiment and talk about national sentiment and national issues."

The governor said the best option for opposition parties was the emergence of APC as a strong and viable party, adding: "Good enough, APC has come to stay.

"It's no longer in doubt whether I'm in APC or AGPA, but let it be known that people have always seen APGA as Igbo cultural party," admitting that APGA has never been a national party as it is not really a political party.

"For us, it is like an Igbo thing and for now, it is very proper that we look at it from a bigger picture that would benefit our people.

"It should be worrisome that today in Nigeria no Igbo man is the President or Vice-President, the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman of a national party. None of these positions come to the Igbo man because we are not playing in the right party but in APC, we would make sure that one of these major positions comes to an Igbo man." Okorocha said.

He added that "if the late Odimegwu Ojukwu had been alive today, he will be the first person to support this merger because he was once the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of ANPP. So this idea of bringing tribal sentiments when it comes to a bigger picture of politics would not help us in this nation and that is why I commend the Buharis, and the Tinubus for giving up these regional sentiments to build a bigger party that can help rebuild our nation of our collective dream and aspiration."

On his involvement in the recent impeachment of his Deputy Governor, he however stated that he was innocent in the exercise. "It was purely the state House of Assembly matter, it was a poor situation that was not well managed, because the deputy governor is somebody that I love so much and somebody that I worked with before he became the deputy governor when he was the Commissioner for Works. That goes to show how close we were," he explained.

JUDE AGBASO IMPEACHED FROM OFFICE AS DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE

The Imo State Deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso was on Thursday, Impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly after the House uncovered evidence that he collected a bribe of 458 million naira from some contractors handling roads construction projects in Imo State.

Owing to the abandonment of some road projects in the State, the Joint Committee on State and Local Government Projects led by Mr. Stan Dara, member of Imo State House of Assembly representing Orsu Local Government Area in their investigation discovered that Agbaso, the deputy governor who was also then the Commissioner for works had demanded and collected  gratification of 458 million naira from J-PROS International Nigeria Limited (the construction company handling some major roads projects in the State).

Acting on the report of the Project Monitoring Committee, the Imo House of Assembly had set up a Special Adhoc Committee presided over by Mr Simeon Iwunze.

According to the report by the Special Adhoc Committee, Mr. Joseph Dina of J-PROS International Nigeria Limited in his testimony confirmed having given Agbaso a total sum of N458 million on request through a text message to two accounts domiciled in both GT Bank and UBA. The report further revealed that Agbaso lied severally before owning up. First, he denied ever inviting Mr. Dina of J-PROS to his house but when Dina stood his ground and mentioned to have bought a blue designer Porsche wine from London for him and how Agbaso sent his security personnel to bring him to his MCC Road residence, Agbaso owned up.

The drama was further heightened with the denial of demanding and receiving any gratification before Dina revealed the phone number with which the deputy governor made the request and the account numbers 08033444421 and the payment as follows: Three brothers Concept Limited, Bank: GT Bank Plc with Account No: 0045630151 with sort code 058266511. Amount paid is N325,000,000 in February 2012; Another N133,000,000 was paid in the month of June to IHSAN BDC Limited, Account no 1015334698 with sort code, 033153351, UBA Plc, 27, Wharf Road, Apapa, Lagos State

The House, having failed to reach the Deputy governor owing to the latter’s absence from office and his official residence, had resolved to serve him an impeachment notice through other means; electronic and print media and pasting such at his official residence after a plenary session which was held last week.

IMO STATE GETS A NEW DEPUTY GOVERNOR

The Chief of Staff to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was sworn-in to office as the Deputy Governor of Imo State on Saturday, March 30th 2013.

The event which was presided over by the Imo State Chief Judge and President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Benjamin Njemanze took place at the Government House, Owerri.

lt will be recalled that the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Jude Agbaso was impeached on Thursday by the Imo State House of Assembly after the House uncovered evidence that he collected a bribe of 458 million naira from some contractors handling roads construction projects in the State.