N13bn Fraud: Umahi, Anyim Fight Deepen As Ebonyi Commissioner Withdraws As Anyim’s Surety

The battle between the former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi, on Friday took a different dimension as a serving commissioner under Umahi’s administration who stood as surety for Anyim in an alleged fraud case withdraw his suretyship.

BIGPENNGR.COM reports the State Commissioner of Investment & Abuja liaison, Ekumankama Nkama, in a letter dated November 30, 2020 and addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), indicated his decision to withdraw as the surety of Anyim Pius Anyim.

Anyim, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for reportedly using firms in which he had interest to award contracts to the tune of N13 billion from the Ecological Fund Account domiciled in his office.

The commission is also investigating how Anyim spent the sum of N520 million he allegedly collected from the office of the national security adviser under Sambo Dasuki on the eve of the 2015 presidential election.

Reports say he was arrested in November 2017 and later granted bail, with Nkama standing as his surety.

However, a letter by the commissioner has hinged the decision to pull out of the case to recent events particularly the case of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, and Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) who reportedly jumped bail prompting Ndume’s remand in prison custody. Ndume has since been released and Maina rearrested.

According to Nkama, his decision to withdraw as surety for Anyim would avail him the peace of mind he needs to discharge his duties moreso “recent events” in Ebonyi has necessitated his decision.

Recalls Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, and Anyim have been at loggerheads since Umahi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Last Wednesday, Umahi sacked his political appointees from Ivo local government area of the state where Anyim hails from.

The letter reads; “I, Ekumankama, Joseph Nkama, commissioner of investment & Abuja liaison, Ebonyi state government, wish to formally withdraw as surety for his excellency, senator Anyim Pius Anyim”.

“You may recall, sir, that senator Anyim Pius Anyim was detained while under investigation and when granted bail conditions by the commission, I availed myself as his surety knowing fully well the adverse effect his action and inaction could impose on my constitutional rights should he decide to act in a manner devoid of the expectations of him by the commission.

“Sir, I regret to inform you that recent events in the last two weeks in my state has given me food for thought and my conscience could no longer allow me to continue to stand as a surety for senator Pius Anyim.

“I have also considered the recent event involving Senator Ali Ndume and Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct pension reform task team, I am most particularly convinced that my decision to withdraw as surety will best grant me the needed peace to function effectively in all responsibilities demanded of me.”