Detectives are probing Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi’s brother, Austine Umahi, and two others over DN 400million slush funds linked to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 presidential campaign.
The others are Chinyere Egwuche and Mabel Dikibo.
Part of the cash has been traced to some companies in which the governor allegedly has interest.
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) top source, who spoke in confidence, said the suspects were interrogated on Monday and released.
The source said: “The suspects, who are all employees of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort, were arrested, following their refusal to collect and honour an invitation by the EFCC for questioning in an ongoing investigation involving the companies.
Austin Umahi doubles as the chairman of both companies. Chinyere Egwuche and Marbel Dikibo are signatories to the companies’ accounts.
An EFCC source said: “Investigations by the Commission revealed that N400, 000, 000 was released by the Director of Finance, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Senator Nenadi Usman, to PDP Ebonyi State, for the 2015 presidential election, but the said fund was moved from Fidelity Bank Abakaliki on the 27th of March 2015, where it was initially deposited to an Access Bank Abakaliki account.
“From Access Bank, Maxwell Umahi moved N100, 000,000 and N300, 000,000 into the accounts of Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited and Osborn La-Palm Royal Resort respectively.
”One of the suspects, Chinyere Egwuche, withdrew the N300 million 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.
The source, who pleaded not to be named so as not to jeopadise the investigation, confirmed that part of the funds was remitted into David Umahi Faith Foundation.
The source added: “The N100 million 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 companies have been traced to the Ebonyi State Governor.
“We are working on clues that the N400 million was diverted into personal use after it was received from the ex-Minister of Finance.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “All the suspects have been detained pending the conclusion of preliminary investigation and administrative bail.”
Umahi last night denied being arrested.
Mr Umahi, the National Vice Chairman, South East of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a telephone conversation with our reporter, said no time was he arrested by the Commission.
He described the reports as the handiwork of detractors.
“I wasn’t arrested, there is nothing like that. Will I be arrested and I am picking my calls and talking to you. It is trash, nothing like that happened”.
“What did they even say I did. I am just hearing it for the first time right now from you. I will advise that people should properly investigate before writing their reports,” he said.
A top government official in his brother’s administration who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to react officially, said Mr Austin Umahi was in his Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area country home.
“I saw him yesterday (Monday) in Uburu, so when did this arrest take place?” the source said.
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