Confusion in Ebonyi as EFCC arrests Engr Benjamin Ogbonnaya Okah for N83Million Graft

The immediate past  commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi state,Engr.Benjamin Ogbonnaya Okah,was on Monday,August 15, arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC,for  allegedly collecting   Eighty three million naira,as gratification  from a consortium firm, that  abandoned it's contract with the state.

Sources at EFCC office Enugu revealed that a twelve million dollar Mega watts contract was awarded to Calif co group, an international consortium firm based in United States of America,USA, was  initiated  by Engr Benjamin Ogah while he held position as  commissioner for Public utilities in the past administration in the state led by Chief Martin Elechi. Unfortunately the contract which was awarded in July  2012, had since been abandoned after a payment of $10.8 million was paid into the UBA and Heritage bank accounts of the company.

Worried by the non completion of the project, even when  the consortium firm was paid  in foreign currency, the present administration in Ebonyi led by Engr.Dave Umahi through the state Attorney General invited the EFCC to investigate the contract.

Sources at EFCC said their  investigations have revealed that Engr Benjamin Okah collected a total of N83 million naira gratification from the company between 2012  when the contract was awarded and December 30,2014, paid into  the accounts of his personal companies,Global Allied Company and  Mahco Mega Nig. limited,both of which he is the managing director and signatory to the various company accounts.

 EFCC said he  will be  charged to court as soon as their investigation is  concluded.