Jones Udeogu, a co-accused of former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, in an alleged fraud charge yesterday told Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos, that it was only the Chief of Staff to the former Governor, Dr. T. A Orji, who determined who get what from the Government House account.
The defendant was docked alongside Kalu and a company, Slok Nigeria Ltd, before the court on charges bordering on fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but the trio pleaded not guilty
Udeogu, a former director of Finance in Abia State Government House during the tenure of Kalu, disclosed this while being led-in-evidence by lawyer, Chief Solo Akuma (SAN).
In his defence, the accused who spoke from the witness box said based on Civil Service Rules, he had no direct contact with the former Governor or take orders from him but from his Chief of Staff who also managed Government House funds.
“According to Civil Service Rules, nobody can bypass the Chief of Staff to see or take orders from the Governor, all the directors takes orders from the Chief of Staff, Unit Heads takes orders from their various Directors and it is only the Chief of Staff that can give approval for who gets what from the Government House bank accounts.
“My duty then was just to workout release of funds in any forms either by cash or cheque from the accounts”, he said.
He added that all the disbursement of funds in Abia State Government House were made pursuant to the approval of the Chief of Staff.
Udeogu also denied partaking in payment of any money to the account of the third defendant (Slok Nigeria Limited).
“I did not partake in the payment of funds to the account of Slok Nigeria Ltd as alleged in counts 34 to 38. I am also not a signatory to the account of Slok Nigeria Limited.
“Neither me nor any other staff of Government House paid any money into Slok account. We also did not receive any Board Resolution from Slok requesting for any money to be paid into Slok account”, he said.
Further hearing in the matter continues tomorrow.
