By Jennifer Y Omiloli
A Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in Abuja has referred the case of criminal complaint, made against APC Imo guber candidate, Hope Uzodinma, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for investigation and appropriate action.
Judge Abdulwahab Muhammed of the court located at Arab Road, Kubwa, Abuja, took the decision made after Uzodinma’s alleged consisted failure to attend court to answer to the complaint.
The complaint was made against the lawmaker by Chitex Ventures Ltd and Chima Akuzie.
They claimed that the Senator issued them a N200 million UBA bounced Cheque.
According to Akuzie, Uzodinma subcontracted to his company, a shoreline protection project in Koko, Delta State, which he (Uzodinma) allegedly got from the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and that the dud cheque was intended as payment of their successful execution of the project.
The court’s referral of the case to the anti-graft was conveyed through a letter dated October 29 this year and was received by the EFCC, Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu on November 6.
The letter’s reference number is FCT/JD/AC/ABJ/CORR/EFCC/VOL1/2018. It was addressed to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC.
Part of it reads, “Re-Criminal complaint against Senator Hope Uzodinma, Smiec Engineering and Chemical Construction Company Limited, and Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company Limited for criminal conspiracy, joint act, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and cheating.
“The above subject matter, with case number: CR/358/2018 between Chimex Ventures Ltd & 1 other and Senator Hope Uzodinma & 2 others, refers.
“With reference to the above subject matter, I am directed to inform you and refer the above matter to your office for proper, thorough and discreet comprehensive investigation in line with Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“Please find attached copy of the complaint for your information and further action.”
Justice Abdulwahab’s decision to refer the case to the EFCC was taken on October 29 when the case came up, but neither Uzodinma, nor his lawyer was in court.
