A N20 million fraud scandal involving the Executive Director of Finance and Administration for the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Mr. AskiaOgieh and the commissioner representing Isoko nationality in the commission, Mr. OvieOghoore has generated severe controversy among leaders and youths in Isoko land.
SaharaReporters learned that it is an annual tradition of the commission to release N20 million each to the five ethnic nationalities that make up the commission at the end of every year for youth empowerment. This year, however, the slot of Isoko was allegedly hijacked by Mr. Ogieh and Mr. Oghoore.
An anonymous staff member in the accounting department of the commission informed SaharaReporters that as soon as the N20 million was released, Mr. Ogieh and Mr. Oghoore pocketed the sum of N16 million and released only N4 million to Mr. Victor Egbo (aka) Last Mugu who doubled as President of the Isoko youths and Senior Special Assistant to Governor IfeanyiOkowa for onward disbursement to the youths of Isoko.
It was gathered that the N16 million was shared between the two. Mr. Ogieh purchased vehicles for some of his cronies with his share of the loot and jetted to Dubai where he was said to be taking asylum with few of his girlfriends.
An executive member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) noted that Mr. Ogieh’s behavior was hardly surprising given his corrupt background as chairman of the Isoko South Local Government Area (LGA).
“We are not surprise because we all know the past of Mr. Ogieh. He was the former chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area (LGA) and the records of how he looted the council treasury can be easily found. Do you know how much he collected from police officers with the promise to make them Aide de Camps to Governor IfeanyiOkowa? As we talk very soon these victims will expose him,” the executive PDP member stated.
The PDP member also noted that Mr. Oghoore possessed an equally corrupt reputation as the chairman of the Isoko North LGA.The Party stalwart noted that Mr. Oghoor
“The records of how he [Mr. Oghoore] looted the council treasury are still there. The N20 million was meant for the youths empowerment and these two corrupt men went ahead to cornered good N16 million to private pockets,” the PDP member said.
A police officer confided in SaharaReporters that Mr. Ogieh falsely promised that he would use his connections to Governor Okowa to secure the officer a position as an ADC. However, the promised position has yet to materialize and all efforts by the police officer to inquire about the status of this position have not been responded to.
Mr. Victor Egbo, the President of the Isoko youths and Senior Special Assistant to Governor IfeanyiOkowa, confirmed that only N4 million was released to him by Mr. Ogieh and Mr. Oghoore.
It was gathered that Mr. Ogieh, safely ensconced in Dubai, that he is entitled to amass his wealth and that nobody can stop him, including Governor Okowa because of his contributions to the governor’s election.
A few months ago, the Ndokwa youths also protested against the State Deputy Speaker, Mr. Friday Osanebi for allegedly pocketing several million of naira that the commission intended for youth empowerment.
At the time of filing this report, Mr. Ogieh and Mr. Oghoore have not responded to any calls or messages from our correspondent.
