Activist Petitions EFCC Over Alleged Fraud By APC Candidate

By Abdulmalik Inuwa Suleiman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been petitioned by Nigerian activist, Comrade Philip Agbese, over fraud allegedly committed by former member of the House of Representatives (2007-2011) under the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now under the All Progressives Congress (APC), from Bukuru Federal Constituency of Benue State, Barr. Orker Jev.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the anti-graft agency and made available to journalists, Agbese, an indigene of Ado Local Government Area in Benue State and a member of the Board of Trustees of the civil society group, National Democratic Front (NDF), accused Jev of emerging candidate of the APC fraudulently and defrauding government's treasury for several months after he was asked to vacate the seat by the Supreme Court.

In the letter, Agbese held that “after Barrister Orker Jev vacated the seat on the 30thMay, 2014 as ordered by the Supreme Court, he continued, in connivance with some officials of the National Assembly, to illegally and fraudulently draw salaries and allowances from a Guaranteed Trust Bank Account as a member of the House of Representatives from Buruku Federal Constituency for the months of June, July, August, September, and October respectively.”

“In fact, to the best of my knowledge, as at October, 2014, Barrister Orkev Jev drew the sum of N700, 000 from the said account of which I have all the details to prove my claim. Attached is a copy of the October payment slip, marked as ANNEXURE “2”,” he stated further.

In conclusion, Comrade Agbese submitted: “Barrister Orker Jev has defrauded the State/Nigeria/Public treasury to the tune of millions of Naira when he, as a lawyer, clearly knew that or had no reason to do so. It is on this basis that I hereby call on the commission to investigate and prosecute Barrister Orker Jev. I'm ready and willing to assist the commission in the course of the investigation into this allegation. I shall also not hesitate to serve as a witness in court if called upon to do so.