EFCC grills former gov Martin Elechi over council funds.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have quizzed the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Martin Elechi, in connection with an ongoing investigation on the administration of local government funds in the state.

It was learnt that Elechi, his son, and some state government officials, who served under him, are being interrogated over a multi-million naira asphalt project awarded to 13 local government areas in the state.

Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday that the former governor was interrogated by operatives of the anti-graft agency.

He said, “It is true that he was quizzed by operatives of the commission.”

Investigation revealed that Elechi was invited to the EFCC’s headquarters to face a team of operatives on Monday and Tuesday last week.

He was said to have faced the panel of investigators from the Economic Governance Unit of the EFCC for two days at the commission’s headquarters.

It was gathered that the former governor was not detained by the commission but was asked to go on self-recognition.

The source said, “The former Governor of Ebonyi State was at the commission on Monday and Tuesday to answer questions on some contracts awarded to 13 local government areas of the state.

“Throughout last week, he was put on standby while a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and his sons were arraigned in court.

“He was not detained; he appeared on Monday and he was only asked to appear again on Tuesday after which he was asked to go on self-recognition.

“The commission is looking into the award of some asphalt projects approved for 13 local government areas in the state, which were not executed in seven of the local government areas.

“It is an ongoing investigation. You remember that  in January, some commissioners were quizzed in relation with the controversial projects and later the governor’s son, Nnana, whose company was alleged  to have handled the project, was quizzed.

“In fact,  the son has been coming to the EFCC office  even before his father left office. Now, the father too has been quizzed and the event is unfolding; it is a build up.”