EFCC Probes Delta Lawmaker, Seals Off Properties in Abuja, Delta, Rivers

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said at the weekend that a lawmaker from Delta State, Jonathan Ukodhiko, was under investigation over corruption allegations.

It said the anti-graft agency was probing the legislator following a petition against him.
There were reports that the agency launched a manhunt for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives member-elect for the Isoko Federal Constituency, Delta State, over alleged corruption and other related issues.

It was gathered that the lawmaker was yet to honour several invitations extended to him by the commission to answer questions bothering on alleged corruption involving his oil and gas companies, Joeny Holdings Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The commission after approaching the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, got an order to seal off Ukodhiko’s office in Port Harcourt and in his Isoko country home at Erawah-Owhe, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta and other properties across the country.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed that Ukodhiko was under investigation.
“We are investigating him. He has a case in our Port Harcourt command,” he said.
But a source, who is involved in the investigation of the member-elect, however, alleged that the lawmaker was on the run.
“Yes, the member-elect, Jonathan Ukodhiko is on the run, we have extended series of invitations to him to appear in our Port Harcourt office in Rivers State for questioning on issues bothering on corruption related matters.

“But he has vehemently refused to honour all invitations extended to him so far. As a result of that we approached the court for an order to seal off his properties pending his arrest or surrounding himself to our office,” the source said.

“Following the court order in suit No: FHC/PH/CS/88/2023, we sealed off his Port Harcourt office, Rivers state few weeks ago and on Friday we went to his Isoko residence to seal it off as well as other properties identified to have been owned by him across the country.
“Why is he on the run for several weeks now? Why is he evading arrest and interrogation? If you are running a genuine business; why hiding, why on the run, why refusing to honour invitation extended to you, why evading arrest?

“Any moment from now we shall declare him wanted and place a bounty on him. We learnt he travelled abroad and may not be back until the proclamation of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu,” the source reportedly said.

Uwujaren told THISDAY that the lawmaker was being probed by the commission over a petition against him at the Port Harcourt office of the agency.
“He has a case with our Port Harcourt office over a petition against him.
“I don’t have all the details but our Rivers command is handling the investigation”, he said.