ICPC detains four former Kogi commissioners for alleged corruption

Four former commissioners under the administration of ex-Kogi State governor, Capt. Idris Wada, have been arrested and are being detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) on allegations of misapplication of government funds and abuse of office.

The former commissioners- Kayode Olowomoran (Culture and Tourism), Abdulrahman Wuya (Transport), Onama Godwin (Works) and Ali Ajuh (Budget and Planning)- were arrested after ICPC commenced investigations into allegations that they, acting in connivance with Wada, former accountant general of the state, Ibrahim Idakwo, and a former permanent secretary in the state Ministry of Commerce, Frank Onoja, had obtained a N2billion Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on behalf of the state, which was misapplied.

Preliminary investigations by the Commission also revealed that the suspects allegedly partook in the mismanagement of another N8 billion bond that was raised to fund 57 projects across the state.

The large sums of monies released for the projects were allegedly far beyond the levels of work done.

Furthermore, the suspects are alleged to have benefitted from illegal deductions, to the tune of N1.3 billion, made from the funds of 21 councils by the same administration.

The suspects are expected to remain in custody until they fulfill the administrative bail conditions granted them by the Commission, while investigations continue.