Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigators yesterday interrogated former Ebonyi State Governor Chief Martin Elechi for six and a half hours for alleged financial mismanagement while in office.
The ex-governor is under probe along with his son, Nnanna, who allegedly benefited from some contracts.
The EFCC is also looking into an allegation that a company belonging to Elechi’s family was allegedly used as front for contracts.
Top on the allegations against the governor is the use of one third of the state’s revenue to fund the Labour Party (LP) in the state after he was ostracized from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According sources, Elechi arrived at the EFCC in Abuja at 10am and was quickly ushered into the interrogation room where he was still being questioned as at 4.35pm.
A top source in the anti-graft agency said: “Some of the allegations against the former governor include the theft of millions of naira in the asphalt contract for the 13 local government secretariats and headquarters.
“Till date only six out of the 13 LGs executed the contract, though monies were approved and paid for all the LGs. The contract was also allegedly awarded to Nnanna Elechi, the ex-governor’s son.
“Also, the former governor was put to task on the expenditure of funds earmarked for the centenary celebration. Towards the celebration, a supervisory committee under the former Commissioner for Local Governments, Celestine Nwali, deducted N1 million from each of the 13 LG areas for the purchase and production of T-shirts for the celebration but there was no evidence of T-shirts produced for the celebration.”