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BREAKING: Former Imo Governor Ohakim’s Commissioners Provided Information Leading To His Arrest

A high-ranking official within the EFCC told SaharaReporters that their investigation has focused on theft of money available through “capital and bond markets” which the Governor accessed through his position.

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The former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, was arrested this morning by agents from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for money laundering, corruption, and bribery during his tenure as Governor between 2007-2011.

A high-ranking official within the EFCC told SaharaReporters that their investigation has focused on theft of money available through “capital and bond markets” which the Governor accessed through his position.

The same official told a SaharaReporters correspondent that their inquiries lead their investigators to several properties in his name, “which was most likely for the purposes of laundering money.” This official, however, was cautious to say that the investigation was ongoing.

SaharaReporters learned that the former Governor Ohakim remained in detention and continues to be interrogated by EFCC officials.

SaharaReporters also learned that, “this has been a long running investigation leading to the arrest of Ohakim” and that the EFCC had previously “arrested [his] Commissioners, who provided statements [to EFCC agents] which lead to the arrest of Ohakim.”

This is the latest in a series of high profile arrests of former politicians by the EFCC. Other politicians, like former Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State, and former Ebonyi State Governor Elechi have all had run-ins with the EFCC in recent weeks. EFCC officials have also arrested several Central Bank employees for running a major scam in the Central Bank of Nigeria.