N1bn Bribe Allegation: I Am Awaiting EFCC’s Invitation, Says Etok

N1bn Bribe Allegation: I Am Awaiting EFCC’s Invitation, Says Etok

CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Pension and Establishment, Senator Aloysius Etok, has reacted to the N1billion bribery allegation levied against him by a former pension officer.
Etok in a telephone conversation Saturday said he is awaiting invitation to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the allegation.
Former Director, Accounts and Finance (Pension) in the Office of the Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation, Dr Teidi Shuaibu, had, in a petition to the EFCC, alleged that he gave the said amount to Etok to scuttle investigation over missing pension fund.
Shuaibu is currently standing trial for his alleged involvement in a N18.3 billion pension fund scam and he alleged that the Senate committee chairman had demanded the sum of N1billion to provide ‘a soft landing’ in the course of the probe.
On his part, Etok described the allegation as baseless, ridiculous and laughable, noting that it was a calculated political attempt coming from certain quarters to tarnish his image.
He said:  “I read the newspaper publication but I would not want to say anything more than the fact that the allegation is not true. I don’t want to make any further comment since they claimed that the petition is now before the EFCC.
“I am only awaiting a formal invitation from the anti-graft body since the petition is before them. I will make myself available for questioning whenever the EFCC deems it fit to invite me. But the allegation bothers on cheap lies and it is baseless, ridiculous and laughable.”
According to the petition dated September 30, 2013 and signed by his lawyer and personnel assistant, Mr T. E. Okocha and Dr R. Afuzie, respectively, Shuaibu claimed that Senator Etok received N400 million in cash and equipment.
A national daily also reported Friday that the lawmaker obtained the said amount in cash and kind. According to the report, Etok initially collected N50 million and another $200, 000 in addition to delivery of cars, landed property and industrial equipment to compromise outcome of investigation.
Etok was said to have requested for and got two brand new Mercedes Benz cars, including a 2010 Model Coupe, a D8 Caterpillar, a 33-litre capacity petroleum tanker and an additional $200,000 for his oversight function.
In return, the Senate committee chairman was alleged to have persuaded Shuaibu to attend the Senate public hearing July last year with a promise to use him as a prosecution witness in the attempt at nailing pension thieves.