Delta based Publisher, Obiemenyego arrested over investigation to expose alleged N28m fraud

 A journalist Cum Publisher of Zion Nationale Newspaper in Asaba, Delta State, Jude Obiemenyego was recently arrested by Officers of Delta State Police Command and State Security Service, Fresh Angle can authoritatively report.

Fresh Angle investigation reveals that the journalist, Obiemenyego was on a fact finding mission to Delta State Environmental Protection Agency, DELSEPA as a result of a scoop over an alleged fraud.

Fresh Angle reliably gathered that the scoop is sequel to a petition addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. The petition is accusing the acting General Manager of DELSEPA, Mrs. F.U. Ebonka, who is wife of a former Deputy Governor of Delta State of misappropriating over N28m meant for the kick-starting and accreditation of DELSEPA Science Laboratory situated at Mariam Babangida Way, Asaba.

According to the journalist, Obiemenyego, on arrival at Mrs. Ebonka’s office to hear her side of the allegation, she invited two of her staffers, Mr. Victor Okolie and Mr. C.I. Mordi. The ex Deputy Governor’s wife explained to Mr. Obiemenyego that being a public officer, she was not a custodian to DELSEPA fund and she was not under any obligation to render documents to Jude Obiemenyego related to the allegations. She insisted the journalist must disclose his source of information, but report reveals that while the chat was on, she alerted the O/C Asaba International Airport, Mr. Raphael and one SSS Officer attached to the Airport and Mr. Jude Obiemenyego was arrested without any warrant, only for the security agents to threaten Obiemenyego with pistol at Mrs. Ebonka’s office, if he dares resist arrest.

The Journalist told Fresh Angle that based on security reason, he called the attention of the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe on phone and the Delta CP immediately ordered both parties to report to the police headquarters at Asaba.

Impeccable sources confirmed that at the headquarters, Mamman Tsafe assigned the matter to the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-Charge of Criminal Investigations Department, who later re-assigned it to the O/C Anti-Vice where Obiemenyego and Ebonka made statements.

At this point, Jude Obiemenyego was released on bail after the intervention of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Charles Muka, while Mrs. Ebonka withdrew the matter through a written document.

It was also gathered that the A/C CID and O/C Anti-Vice tried to intimidate Obiemenyego by insisting he must sign an undertaken never to publish anything that involves the wife of the former Deputy Governor, but Obiemenyego reportedly stood his ground and refused to sign.

Fresh Angle also scooped that following Jude Obiemenyego’s refusal to sign the undertaken,while in the office of O/C Anti-Vice, the Police Officer declared, “You are neither here nor there, you are not consistent, you are not truthful. Thank God that I, O/C Anti-Vice was not the person involved, I would have dealt with you squarely. I don’t want to see you, work away from my office”.

Mr. Obiemenyego disclosed to Fresh Angle that since his release, there have been series of threats from people suspected to be security agents allegedly working for the wife of the former Deputy governor, Mrs. F.U. Ebonka. He added that between 8.00am and 10.00am on the 1st of March, persons suspected to be agents of Ebonka invaded the newspaper distribution stands at Asaba and carted away with copies of Zion publication.

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