EFCC arrests Imo accountant general over N1.05bn allegedly laundered for Okorocha

Rochas Okorocha

Imo State Government’s accountant general, Uzoho Casmir, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency, in a report made available to journalists on Friday, said Mr Casmir was arrested for allegedly aiding the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, to launder N1.05 billion for the governorship and state assembly elections.

The EFCC report said, “The, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office, Thursday, March 8, 2019 arrested the Acting Accountant General of Imo State, Mr. Uzoho Casmir, on suspicion of laundering the sum of N1.050bn through a new generation bank for the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

“Uzoho’s arrest followed intelligence report that the governor intended to use the money for vote buying in favour of a particular candidate in tomorrow’s gubernatorial election.

“Intelligence further revealed that Mr Casmir withdrew the amount in three tranches between Tuesday and Thursday this week in the following order; N200m on Tuesday, N500m on Wednesday and N350m on Thursday.

“Meanwhile, the EFCC has blocked the traced accounts, while the arrested Accountant General has been providing useful information to the commission. Mr Casmir was before his appointment, a Director of Finance in Okorocha’s government and was in 2016 fingered in N2bn bailout fund scam, which was then given to the state by the Federal Government for the payment of salary arrears of civil servants.”