● Nyesom Wike’s connection suspected…
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has shelved the plan to investigate Rivers State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, on corruption-related allegations.
The Bureau had invited Fubara to appear before it, on Monday, November 7, 2022 over a case of alleged breach of code of conduct for public officers in which his name appeared.
The investigation was consequent upon a petition by Mr Ifeanyichukwu Obasi-Nweze of Volunteer Legal Practitioners Foundation for Morals and Values.
The petitioner had himself appeared before the CCB on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 for adoption of his petition.
THE CONCLAVE learnt that Fubara, who was the immediate past Accountant General of Rivers State, did not show up for his interview and the investigation did not happen as scheduled.
The development has raised suspicion of possible compromise of some top CCB officials in the know of the investigation by the government of Rivers State.
The shelved investigation, according to feelers, might not be unconnected with the move allegedly by the state governor, Nyesom Wike, to compromise some CCB directors.
Pointblanknews.com had reported that Governor Wike was allegedly offering a whopping N100m each to top brass within the Code Of Conduct Bureau (CCB) so that the planned investigation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate of the state, Siminalayi Fubara would be shelved.
According to the online newspaper, the reach out to the CCB directors was a last-ditch effort hours before Mr Fubara’s scheduled appearance before the bureau for questioning on corruption-related matters.
The news medium had reported an incontrovertible source disclosing to it that Gov. Wike had been reaching out to directors with mouth-watering offers so that the invitation was stalled and subsequently shelved.
It quoted the source to have said: “The governor is calling anybody associated with the case, offering them N100m so that they will leave the matter alone. An indictment on Fubara is akin to an indictment on him as well.”
The CCB had activated the investigation process vide a letter of invitation with reference number CCB/HQ/II&M/007/2267, dated 26th October, 2022 and signed by the Director of Intelligence, Investigation & Monitoring, Gwimi Sabastine Peter, for the Bureau’s Chairman, Professor Muhammad Isah.
According to the letter, Mr Siminalayi Fubara was expected to appear at the CCB interview room, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, (November 7) by 11 am prompt.
The letter also stated that “This invitation is made pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 3{e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended Section 137 (a) and (b) and 138 (a) and (b) Penal Code Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and Section 104 of evidence Act 2011”.
It would be recalled that days after being declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Siminalayi Fubara won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket in Rivers State.
He had polled 721 votes to defeat a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Isaac Kamalu, who scored 86, at the primary election of the party in Port Harcourt.
Fubara’s ambition is widely speculated to have the blessings of the state governor, Nyesom Wike.
Recall also that Fubara is also wanted by the anti-graft agency over alleged N435 billion fraud.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
