EFCC to Probe Rivers State Government for Suspicious Withdrawals

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is going to probe the Rivers State government over the withdrawal of over N11b from the government’s account that occurred between October 2015 and February 2016, according to a report published by Punch Newspaper.

The anti-graft agency was directed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to conduct the investigation.

The Director of Finance and Administration of the Rivers State Government House, Kingsley Fubara, allegedly withdrew the funds from the government’s Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account.

According to an EFCC source who spoke to a correspondent, roughly N5.1b was withdrawn by Mr. Fubara in ten tranches between October and December 2015. He withdrew another N6.1b from the same account in eleven tranches between January and February 2016.

The EFCC will also be investigating another suspicious transaction in which N1.5b was transferred from the government’s CBN account to a Zenith Bank account belonging to one Samuel Anya in late January 2016.

“We were also asked to investigate the withdrawal of N1.5bn on or about January 27, 2016 by one Mr. Samuel Anya of 69B Forces Avenue, old GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from the State’s account with CBN through the transfer of the money to his account 0248922015 with Zenith Bank,” an EFCC source disclosed to a correspondent.