But Idahosa, briefing journalists in Benin, the state capital, described the allegation as lacking in facts, arguing that he had not been involved in any criminal act nor been arrested or tried by law enforcement agencies both in the country and abroad.
A former Edo State Commissioner for Investment, Public and Private Partnership of the All Progressives Congress-led government, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, on Tuesday denied any involvement in fraud related cases in Nigeria and overseas.
The state government had, in a statement last week, claimed that Idahosa resigned his appointment and defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, after it received series of petitions from overseas against him for alleged fraud.
But Idahosa, briefing journalists in Benin, the state capital, described the allegation as lacking in facts, arguing that he had not been involved in any criminal act nor been arrested or tried by law enforcement agencies both in the country and abroad.
He said, “There is no fact in that. I have never been involved in any criminal or fraudulent act in my life both in Nigeria and abroad nor have I been arrested or tried by the law enforcement agents within and outside the country.”
The former commissioner, who decamped four months after his appointment, also stated that the allegation was designed to smear his name.
Idahosa, who reiterated that his decision to quit was prompted by his desire to support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, however, noted that he would not be deterred in the task of ensuring improved well-being of the people of Ovia federal constituency.
He said, “Basically, I will say that is Nigeria politics for you and I find it very laughable and I know that you know too that when strange friends are fighting, they don’t use sweet words for each other, like you have in the case of couples undergoing divorce. They will never say good things about each other.
”There were no serious contending issues that led to my resignation. It was the decision of both myself and my people for us to move from the present government to another platform, under the able leadership of our President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.”
”If I can leave the comfort of a commissioner to a place I hold no office and I am under no salary, it therefore means that I have my people in mind. I believe the lot of my people can be bettered in the new platform I have gone to.”