The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos are currently detaining four officials of the Rivers State government over investigation on contracts awarded by the Governor Peter Odili administration.
Those detained are three commissioners overseeing the Finance, Works and Transport as well as the Accountant General of the state who as at yesterday were still making useful statements to the commission.
In Port Harcourt however, the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Magnus Abe blamed political opponents of Odili who were threatened by his �soaring� political profile for peddling what he described as dangerous rumours against the governor especially on the internet.
He also dismissed the allegation that Odili has interest in Arik air, adding that the relationship between Rivers State and Rockson Engineering was to the extent that it handled the independent power project for the state where he insisted they performed well.
However, inside sources in EFCC told THISDAY �those commissioners who cooperated with our investigation were questioned and released while those who proved stubborn by holding back information are still with us�.
The source, which described the investigation as �on-going,� said, there were a lot of things they were interested in like contracts in the state.
Asked why the commission chose the week preceding the Presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party to effect arrests of Odili�s Commissioners, the source denied any political undertone to negatively affect the political fortunes of the Governor.
However, Abe said that the statement credited to EFCC to the effect that they have not convicted the State for any crime has tampered the temperature of the issue to show that they were clean.
�Odili has no interest in Arik Air whatsoever. The relationship between the State and Rockson Engineering is the construction of our IPP, which has been acclaimed and has also fetched them contracts for the building of the turbines for the federal government in the Niger Delta region.
He dismissed the stories being bandied about his principal as �totally without foundation designed, sponsored and calculated by Dr. Odili�s political opponents for maximum advantage.
Although the EFCC is still holding onto their Commissioners, Abe commended them for a statement, which said the EFCC has not found the state guilty of any offence.
He showcased reports on corruption index where two different copies of the same index were printed by one Timipa who he alleged demanded for amounts that would make one shudder or have the damning one presented.
He however said that since investigation was on over the matter, he would refrain from commenting much on it.
Dec132006