The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has quizzed a former House of Representatives member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo (a.k.a. Ozigizaga), for allegedly collecting N60,000,000 from a contractor under a false pretence to facilitate the award of a N300,000,000 solar power contract in Benue State for him.
Agbo, who chaired the Narcotic Committee of the 9th National Assembly, was quizzed for questioning on January 20, 2025, by the Wuse 2 office of the EFCC.
In the petition addressed to the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, dated October 4, 2024, which was made available to journalists in Abuja, the petitioner, Prince Courage Ehijiele Ikhajiangbe and his firm, Counsoneita Company Limited, urged the EFCC to investigate the incident to ensure justice is served.
The petitioner, while calling for speedy action, accused Agbo of using his former position as a member of the 9th Assembly to defraud unsuspecting Nigerian citizens in the guise of facilitating government contracts. Many others have similar complaints.
Part of the petition filed by a legal firm, Solicitors Quantum, on behalf of Courage Ehijiele Ikhajiangbe, stated, “Our client is a businessman and contractor who deals in various streams of businesses.
“That our client was introduced to Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo
(Hereinafter referred to as Hon. Agbo, Member of the 9th assembly at the House of Representatives representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Benue State) at a function in F.C.T.-Abuja sometime in 2023.
“Our client had several interactions with Hon. Agbo, who presented himself as someone capable of influencing and facilitating the procurement of government contracts to be carried out within his constituency in Benue State.
“That Hon. Agbo claimed that he was going to facilitate a N300,000,000
contract for the supply and installation of Solar lights in his Constituency (Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Benue State) for our client.
“Due to the assurances of Hon. Agbo, our client was confident that the contract would be awarded to his company, Counsoneita Company Limited.
“That on the strength of the assurances given, Hon. Agbo then made bold a request for the sum of N60,000,000 to be paid to him to facilitate the said contract.”
