As the war against corruption and financial crimes continue to soar since Muhammedu Buhari took over reins of power as Nigeria’s President, the searchlight of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been beamed on the immediate past Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Rt Hon Benjamin Uwajumogu.


Barring any change of plan, Uwajumogu, who is battling in court to challenge the victory of the winner of Okigwe zone senatorial position Senator Athan Achonu of the PDP, may be guest of the anti-graft body any moment from now.
Reason for EFCC hunt, according to this newspaper finding, is connect to nonpayment of entitlements due to one of the members of the immediate past House of Assembly, who joined his colleagues lately before the closed shop for the legislative period, Hon Walter Uzowanne of Oguta state constituency.
It would be recalled that after many months of squabbles between Uzowanne of the APGA and PDP’s Eugene Dibliagwu, a court decision ordered the former to be sworn-in and recognized as a member of the House.
However, it was learnt that the entitlements including constituency allowances and monetary welfare packages due to the member who represented Oguta State Constituency in the immediate past dispensation were worked out by the financial department of the House and the amount totaling more than N50m approved for payment. This newspaper gathered that Uzowanne who duely applied for his entitlements could not receive the cash.
The money it was further learnt developed wings midway before reaching the Oguta lawmaker. Further revelation have it that when Uzowanne confronted Rt Hon Uwajumogu on his entitlements and Prado Jeep car, he was reportedly dismissed and asked to produce his certificate of returns to be entitled to the claims.
This newspaper learnt the demand for the production from INEC was a decoy to surreptitiously embezzle the money by authorities in the state Assembly.
This alleged act attracted the attention of EFCC who is said to have received complaints from different quarters on the matter.
The complaints indicate that for the purpose of utilizing the money meant for member who represents Oguta zone, allowing Uzowanne obtaining a court order to be sworn-in was the solution.
When Uzowanne was finally sworn-in, the syndicate working on how to pill out the money allegedly got hold of it without parting a dime to the supposed beneficiary. Instead, the Oguta Assembly man was asked to produce his INEC certificate of Return.
Efforts to reach Uwajumogu for comments was unsuccessful as his phone remained switched off. A close associate who claimed the former Speaker travelled out of town however queried if Uzowanne has INEC papers to be sworn-in if he is in doubt, he should go to court to make the demand.

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