By Chioma Gabriel, Deputy Editor
THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is dug in a battle with Senator Alphonsus Igbeke who was recently sworn in as the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District over an alleged fraud predating his emergence as a senator.

The Commission’s spokesman, Mr. Olamiti  confirmed the ICPC’s  invitation to the Anambra born Senator in respect of an alleged fraud.

Olamiti in a terse text message to Saturday Vanguard confirmed the Senator’s invitation saying “Yes, he has been  invited .”

Senator Igbeke, however, dismissed the invitation as he alleged that his political opponents were out to disgrace  and hound him with a criminal tag.

The letter of invitation from the ICPC seeking the release of Senator Igbeke, reliable sources in the National Assembly told Saturday Vanguard was routed through the President of  the Senate, Senator David Mark.

The ICPC and other anti-graft agencies have in the past out of courtesy invited senators and members of the House of Representatives through the offices of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Details of the ICPC interest in the senator were not clear as the ICPC spokesman and others in the know of the invitation sought to play it down though sources claimed the investigation pertained to the Senator’s alleged deals in some communal property in his native Anambra State prior to his emergence as a Senator.

But Senator Igbeke was defiant when asked of the matter as he alleged further attempts by his political opponents to distabilise him as he affirmed that he had not received any letter of invitation from the ICPC or been intimated of the invitation by the Senate President.

“I have not been invited by anybody, either by EFCC, ICPC or SSS. It’s all a propaganda by my opponent. Nobody has invited me. My telephone line is open to the  public . I have an office and if I was invited, they would come to my office.

I was at the senate sitting before and after the break. I did not miss any plenary. What was the allegation they said is leveled against me this time? I did not do anything. My opponent has been maligning me and doing everything to put me down but did not succeed. It is not true.