- Allegations baseless – Ex-NAQS CG
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A socio-cultural group, Oduduwa Development Initiative, has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to probe corruption allegations against former heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).
It claimed that the corruption allegations against some of them and the resultant protests were too weighty and sensitive, to be swept under the carpet without a thorough investigation.
ODI Publicity Secretary, Oladahunsi Ayobami, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, specifically fingered the former Controller General of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), Vincent Isegbe, and a former Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Commission Commission (NCC), of abusing their offices.
“Today again for the umpteenth time we wish to call on the attention of the EFCC and ICPC to as a matter of national importance expedite action on the arrest and prosecution and investigation of heads of agencies that have been fingered in corruption cases.
“We urge the EFCC and ICPC to without fear or favor do the needful in this regard.
“The pain and anguish which these perpetrators of corruption have brought to the masses is the direct consequences of the poverty that bedeviled our nation today.
“Most particularly are the dedicated cases of the immediate past Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
“Another case is that of Dr Vincent Isegbe, a former Director General of Nigeria Agricultural quarantine service (NAQS) whose elongated years in service was marred with gross misconduct and high profile corruption
But in his reaction, Dr Vincent Isegbe, countered the claim, describing it as sponsored and baseless.
Isegbe, through his spokesperson, Chigozie Nwodo, in a statement, said: “There is no gross misconduct, high profile corruption or trade against government policy as alleged. As the pioneer Comptroller General of the Quarantine Service, Dr. Isegbe ran his administration in strict compliance with Public Service Rules and all extant federal government regulations.
“There is absolutely no substance in these claims. Those are all sponsored elements of people who are seeking to tarnish the image of the former CG. All these allegations are all politically motivated.”