Ekumankama Nkama, commissioner of investment & Abuja liaison in Ebonyi state, says he has decided to quit standing surety for Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).
Nkama made this known in a letter to the economy and financial crimes commission (EFCC).
Anyim, former senate president, is under investigation by the EFCC for allegedly using firms in which he had stake to award contracts to the tune of N13 billion from the Ecological Fund Account domiciled in his office.
The commission is also investigating how Anyim spent the sum of N520 million he allegedly collected from the office of the national security adviser under Sambo Dasuki on the eve of the 2015 presidential election.
He was arrested in November 2017 and later granted bail, with Nkama standing as his surety.
But in the letter dated November 30, the commissioner said recent events have prompted him to withdraw as surety to Anyim.
Nkama cited the case of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, and Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).
Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.
Ndume had agreed to stand as surety for Maina who is facing trial on 12 counts of alleged money laundering, a decision he would later regret..
But Maina, who was released on July 28 after spending nine months in Kuje prison, jumped bail and refused to appear in court since his trial resumed on September 29.
In November, a federal high court in Abuja ordered that Ndume be detained over the disappearance of Maina.
Maina was eventually arrested in Niger Republic on Monday and extradited to Nigeria.
Nkama said his decision to withdraw as surety for Anyim would give him the peace of mind he needs to discharge his duties.
He also cited “recent events” in his state as reason for his decision.
Relationship between David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, and Anyim has gone sour since Umahi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Last Wednesday, Umahi sacked his political appointees from Ivo local government area of the state where Anyim hails from.
“I, Ekumankama, Joseph Nkama, commissioner of investment & Abuja liaison, Ebonyi state government, wish to formally withdraw as surety for his excellency, senator Anyim Pius Anyim,” Nkama wrote.
“You may recall, sir, that senator Anyim Pius Anyim was detained while under investigation and when granted bail conditions by commission, I availed myself as his surety knowing fully well the adverse effect his action and inaction could impose on my constitutional rights should he decide to act in a manner devoid of the expectations of him by the commission.
Also Read: Umahi: Anyim And I Planned To Defect To APC But….
“Sir, I regret to inform you that recent events in the last two weeks in my state has given me food for thought and my conscience could no longer allow me to continue to stand as a surety for senator Pius Anyim.
“I have also considered the recent event involving Senator Ali Ndume and Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct pension reform task team, I am most particularly convinced that my decision to withdraw as surety will best grant me the needed peace to function effectively in all responsibilities demanded of me.”
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