The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, last Friday turned down a N10 million gift from Taraba State Acting Governor, Kumar Garba.
This happened at the 2013 Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance Integrity Heroes Award night at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja.
The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Josiah Sabo Kente while receiving an award on behalf of the Acting Governor, told the audience that “the Acting Governor has asked me to announce N10 million donations each to the EFCC and the ICPC as our support for fighting corruption”
News site, Sahara Reporters said the room went silent before Mr. Kayode Oladele, Chief of Staff in the office of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC rushed to the podium to respond.
“We (the EFCC) appreciate the effort of the Acting Governor of Taraba State, but we would like to respectfully decline the donation. The only support we accept is for the Governors to continue to be accountable and transparent in their dealings.”
The Taraba House Speaker reportedly tried to return to the podium but was prevented from speaking to the room again.
He claimed he had told the Master of Ceremony that he made a mistake in his announcement and that the N20 million was actually meant to be donated to the organizers of the program, the Foundation for Transparency and Accountability.
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