Ekumankama Nkama has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his decision to withdraw as the surety of Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).
Nkama, commissioner of investment & Abuja liaison,
Ebonyi state government, disclosed this in a letter dated November 30 and
addressed to the anti-graft agency.
Anyim, former senate president, is under investigation by
the EFCC for reportedly using firms in which he had interest to award contracts
to the tune of N13 billion from the Ecological Fund Account domiciled in his
office.
The commission is also investigating how Anyim spent the sum
of N520 million he allegedly collected from the office of the national security
adviser under Sambo Dasuki on the eve of the 2015 presidential election.
He was arrested in November 2017 and later granted bail,
with Nkama standing as his surety.
But the commissioner said recent events have compelled him to
withdraw as surety to Anyim, citing the case of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, and
Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).
Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged money
laundering to the tune of N2 billion.
Ndume had agreed to stand as surety for Maina who is facing
trial on 12 counts of alleged money laundering, a decision he would later
regret.
One of the terms of the bail is for the senator to accompany
the defendant to court on every date fixed for trial.
But Maina, who was released on July 28 after spending nine
months in Kuje prison, went into hiding and refused to appear in court since
his trial resumed on September 29.
In November, a federal high court in Abuja ordered that
Ndume be remanded over the disappearance of Maina.
Maina was eventually arrested in Niger Republic on Monday
and extradited to Nigeria.
Nkama said his decision to withdraw as surety for Anyim
would avail him the peace of mind he needs to discharge his duties.
He also cited “recent events” in his state as reason for his
decision.
David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, and Anyim have been at
loggerheads since Umahi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the
All Progressives Congress (APC).
Last Wednesday, Umahi sacked his political appointees from
Ivo local government area of the state where Anyim hails from.
“I, Ekumankama, Joseph Nkama, commissioner of investment
& Abuja liaison, Ebonyi state government, wish to formally withdraw as
surety for his excellency, senator Anyim Pius Anyim,” Nkama wrote.
“You may recall, sir, that senator Anyim Pius Anyim was
detained while under investigation and when granted bail conditions by
commission, I availed myself as his surety knowing fully well the adverse
effect his action and inaction could impose on my constitutional rights should
he decide to act in a manner devoid of the expectations of him by the
commission.
“Sir, I regret to inform you that recent events in the last
two weeks in my state has given me food for thought and my conscience could no
longer allow me to continue to stand as a surety for senator Pius Anyim.
“I have also
considered the recent event involving Senator Ali Ndume and Mr Abdulrasheed
Maina, former chairman of the defunct pension reform task team, I am most
particularly convinced that my decision to withdraw as surety will best grant
me the needed peace to function effectively in all responsibilities demanded of
me.”
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