Former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State and one-time Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Nsima Ekere, is not guilty of allegations of conspiracy, diversion and stealing of the sum of N118m levelled against him, a police report has said.
Also cleared by the police report are Messrs Techsel Products Limited, Idorenyin Ekere, Dr Aniekan Ekere and Utibe Ekere.
The affected persons were, between 2011 and 2014, accused by one Abasiama Idong of defrauding Akwa Savings & Loans Limited to the tune of N118m.
However, a Certified True Copy of the police investigation report signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Ibrahim Abdul, and made available to our correspondent in Uyo on Friday, indicted that in the course of their investigation, it was gathered that the alleged missing of N118m against Nsima Ekere was actually a request made by Lossela Nigeria Ltd out of its deposit of $2.5m in Akwa Savings & loans Limited, which was approved by the then Managing Director, Mr. Effiong Okon with a full knowledge that Lossela Ltd had more than enough to accommodate the transaction.
The police report further stated, “That Mr Nsima Ekere did not authorise any payment nor close any Akwa Ibom State Government account with Akwa Saving and Loans Ltd as he had no role to play in the bank.
“That Lossela Nigeria Limited has a business relationship with Techsel Products Ltd.
“That Lossela Nigeria Limited deposited $2,500,000 US Dollars with Akwa Savings and Loans Limited; that the money was transferred through Sterling Bank, where Lossela maintained a domiciliary account.
“That Lossela Nigeria Limited sometime in 2013 requested for the payment of one N100m only from their US dollars deposit with Akwa Savings and Loans Limited; that the money was credited into Techsel Products Ltd account with Akwa Savings and Loan Ltd based on a written instruction from Lossela Nigeria Ltd.
“That there was no visible illegal transaction between the suspects, “Techsel Products Nigeria Ltd” and Lossela Nigeria Ltd” as alleged.
“That the petition is a calculated attempt to smear and ridicule the political ambition of Mr Nsima Ekere, who is also a former MD of NDDC.”
The police further noted that based on the facts gathered in their findings, a prima facie case of conspiracy, forgery and stealing could not be established against Mr Nsima Ekere, Techsel Products Limited, Idorenyin Ekere and Dr Aniekan Ekere as alleged.
