I didn’t receive N458m bribe from Jpros Ltd – Agbaso

By INNOCENT ANABA

Embattled Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso, yesterday, denied receiving N458million bribe from a contractor in the state, Jpros Limited,  saying that the allegation was part of a plot to paint his family in bad light ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Agbaso, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, said: “The allegation is not true. I never solicited for such payment from the company or any contractor for that matter and at no time did I receive such money from the company.

“What gives me concern is why the company could claim to have paid such amount to a person that has no interest or was not in any way connected to the company. N1.5 billion was approved by the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha,  who directed the state Accountant-General to pay the company, which he did.

“Usually, upon the approval of such money, same is communicated to the Accountant-General, for it to go through the normal process, as a certificate would be raised and other steps followed. I was not the governor who gave the approval for the money to be paid orally.

“The contractor claimed I promised to give him jobs in the local governments. Mind you, in Imo State, such contracts are awarded by the council chairmen or influenced by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs or better still the governor. How can the contractor claim that I, who was then the Commissioner of Work, have had the power to influence contracts, when it’s obvious that I didn’t?”