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Aniebo, ex-Administrator arrested ... over N28m loan
Bukola Ojeme
Former Military Administrator of Borno and Kogi states, Colonel James Aniebo is currently in trouble over an unsecured loan of N28 million from the ailing Bank of the North.
Sunday Punch learnt that he has been quizzed by detectives attached to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The ex-Administrator, who has been released on bail, has, however, gone to court seeking to stop the EFCC from further arresting or detaining him over the matter.
Findings by Sunday Punch revealed that Aniebo was invited by the EFCC on Monday July 12 to defend himself against allegations by the bank�s former Public Relations Officer, Captain Abdul Ibiyeye (rtd).
He was said to have collected N28 million unsecured loan from the bank during his tenure as Administrator of Borno State.
One Captain Ibiyeye has been in detention in the last four months at Karshi Police Station, some 40 kilometres from the Federal Capital City over his alleged involvement in the misfortune of the bank.
�Col Aniebo was invited by the EFCC on the strength of the statement made to us by one Captain Abdul Ibiyeye, who alleged that the former Military Administrator took an unsecured loan of N28 million.
He came to the EFCC in company of his lawyer, one Amobi Nzelu on Tuesday, July 13. He initially denied collecting the N28 million. So, the chairman ordered for his detention at Asokoro police station�.
�His lawyer came the following day to plead for bail for his client. He was informed that the former military administrator would be released on bail, only if he agrees to sign an undertaking of refund.
�He eventually signed an undertaking agreeing to refund the N28 million, before he was released to his lawyer on Wednesday, July 14, at about 6 p.m.,� an the EFCC official told Sunday Punch.
Investigations revealed that Aniebo had gone to the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by a vacation judge, Justice Baba Yusuf challenging his earlier arrest and seeking to stop the EFCC from further arresting him over the matter.
Aniebo�s lawyer and a team of EFCC lawyers, led by Mr. Chile Okoronma, reportedly met with the presiding judge in his chambers on last Wednesday, where counsel to both parties agreed on adjournment date for resumed hearing on September 23, 2004.
Contacted for comments, Aniebo�s lawyer, Mr. Nzelu Amobi, confirmed that his client was recently the guest of the EFCC.
He also confirmed that Col Aniebo was granted bail after writing an undertaking, the content of which he refused to divulge.
According to him, �Yes, Col Aniebo was recently arrested and detained at the Asokoro police station for one day on the orders of Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, Chairman of the EFCC.
� I think it was on Tuesday July 13. This is in spite of our plea that he has liver problem. He was released on bail on Wednesday, that is the following day, after he signed an undertaking, the content of which I cannot disclose to you. We are presently at the Federal High Court. The matter has been adjourned till September 23�.
When Sunday Punch visited the EFCC, the Head of Media an d Publicity, Mallam Shariff Ujudud was said to have travelled out of the Federal Capital.
But a source in the department, who confirmed the arrest of the ex-administrator, however, pleaded that because the matter was currently in court, the EFCC could not make any official statement until the court disposes of the matter.
Sunday PUNCH August 29, 2004
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