News Editor
Peter Jerome
Gimba Yau Kumo, a former son-in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) did not extend any prior invitation to him before declaring him wanted.
While stating this in a letter to Bolaji Owasanoye, ICPC chairman, Kumo accused the commission of witch-hunting him and further argued that the fraud allegations against him were dully investigated by the DSS and the EFCC.
It could be recalled that as at last week, the anti-graft agency had declared Kumo, a former managing director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), wanted alongside two other persons for allegedly misappropriating $65 million national housing funds.
But in the letter dated May 18, Patrick Etim, Kumo’s lawyer, argued that his client has nothing to hide about the issue as he had been questioned about it by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He also faulted the ICPC of violating its own act by declaring him wanted without prior invitation.
“We were reliably informed by our client that he was never served any official invitation in line with Section 29, 30, 31, and 32 of the ICPC Act, 2000, ” the letter read.
“Since he left the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) his private office and home addresses are well known to the public as both the DSS and the EFCC have also effected service/invitation to him personally which he honoured without any hesitation on the same issues as he does not have anything to hide.
“Suffice it to be noted that the same allegations were dully investigated by the DSS and the EFCC and reports have been sent to the President. All the documents ranging from the invitation letters and our client’s reply with the documentary proofs will be found if demanded.
“Sir, it is instructive to ask why the witch-hunt? Why the hurry to declare our client wanted? Why the publication without properly inviting our client in accordance with the law? What actually is the aim behind these investigations having been investigated by the DSS and EFCC on the same subject matter?”
Kumo asked the ICPC to follow due process, adding that he is ready to honour any invitation extended to him.
Meanwhile the Presidency through its Spokesman Garba Shehu had on May 15 issued a rebuttal about Kumo’s matrimony with one of the daughters of the President, disclosing that the marriage had been dissolved a long time ago.
