I was never detained by EFCC – Ize-Iyamu

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has explained his involvement in the 2015 campaign fund of former President Goodluck Jonathan brought to Edo State, adding that he was never detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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Ize-Iyamu, who returned to Benin on Wednesday from the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, spoke to journalists in Benin on Thursday, clarifying that he has given to the EFCC details of how the N700 million brought to Edo State for the 2015 presidential campaign was spent in his capacity as the state coordinator.

He said the money was shared among the 18 local government areas of Edo State for the purpose of the election, adding that the money was used to offset logistics, pay and transport party agent, feeding and mobilization for the election.

Another person invited by the EFCC over the same matter, former deputy governor Lucky Imasuen, also clarified his role in the affair, saying that he was only invited by the Edo State PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, along with another party leader, Hon Tony Aziegbemi, to witness the arrival of the money.

Ize-Iyamu pointed out that the EFCC spoke with bank officials over the transaction, adding that people should stop creating stories out of what he described as a regular invitation by the anti-graft agency.

He said, “The state chairman had worked out what he felt was a realistic budget. By the time we looked at what they brought and what we had in mind, it became clear that even the N700 million was not going to meet up  with all the expenses put there.

“Our leader volunteered to make up the difference, which he brought out from his house. The money was given out to the 18 local government chairmen. Because we were very interested in probity, we also insisted that they must sign for any money collected.

“So, the money in question was signed for by this party chairmen, who are still alive. The total money they signed for was even more than N700 million that came. I did not take a kobo out of the money. I explained  all these to the EFCC and I gave them a copy of how much the chairmen collected.”

H.E. Chief Lucky Imasuen, who also spoke on Thursday in Benin, said the money was taken to the Benin residence of the party’s leader from the bank after which the money was shared across the 18 local government areas of the state.

Imasuen, who praised the conduct of the EFCC officials that questioned him, said the EFCC advised them not to leave their office after questioning on Tuesday as it was late, pointing out that he was never detained by the EFCC.

Lucky Imasuen is a former deputy governor of Edo State.