N30m bribery scandal: EFCC to quiz SEC DG, Hembe, others

Posted by admin EFCC Politics, Latest Politics Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, disclosed that investigation was deepening in the alleged corruption accusation and counter-accusation rocking the public hearing on the activities of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by the House Committee on Capital Market and Other Institutions.

Documents that could assist in the unravelling of the corruption brickbat between the Director-General of SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh and chairman of the disbanded committee, Honourable Herman Hembe, were being gathered by the commission operatives handling the probe.

The main actors in the corruption saga would also be summoned for questioning soon in the gathering of oral evidence.

Commission’s spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, told the Nigerian Tribune that “Investigation is ongoing in the matter. Our operatives are working on the case. We are gathering documents that will assist us. Apart from the documents, definitely, there would be need for oral evidence in the course of gathering evidence. So, those involved would be talked to.”

He, however, could not say categorically when the dramatis personae in the saga would be summoned for questioning.

He also did not know the documents that had been gathered by the operatives and where they were got, though it was learnt from a source that documents would come mostly from SEC.

Oteh had alleged that the committee demanded a N44 million bribe from her, while a coterie of alleged fraudulent practices had been levelled against her by the committee.

Her allegation against the committee led to its disbandment and replacement with an eight-man ad hoc committee to continue with the public hearing.

Hembe said he was ready to submit to the anti-corruption probe.

-Tribunewp_posts