Former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, was on Tuesday taken into the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja following an invitation extended to him by the anti graft agency.
Senator Dickson currently representing Bayesla West Senatorial District in the National Assembly on Tuesday honoured an EFCC invitation following an ongoing investigations of an alleged fraudulent activities committed during his tenure as governor of Bayelsa State.
Dickson who arrived at the commission’s head office at about 11a.m. on Tuesday was grilled by EFCC interrogators for hours . He was still with the interrogators as at the time of filing this report 8. 45 pm
Sources knowledgeable about the corruption allegations leveled against him said he is being questioned on issues bordering on “abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds during his eight-year rule”.
Seriake Dickson was the governor of Bayelsa State between 2012 and 2020.He left the office after his two tenure and contested and won the senatorial seat.
One of the sources said the allegations against the former governor also bordered on issues of assets declaration and misapplication of intervention funds and other assets belonging to the Bayelsa State government.
Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson of the EFCC, confirmed that Dickson is with the anti graft agençy .
It was certain on Tuesday whether EFCC is solely investigating petition calling for Dickson tenure probe.
Before he left office in December 2020, a group, the Patriot of Anti-Corruption League, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) calling for an investigation of Dickson role in alleged money laundering case and false, and anticipatory declaration of assets .
The convener, Kingsley Arthur, who signed the group petition had urged the anti-graft agency to open up an unbiased investigation into the finances of the state in the last eight years.
Among other allegations contained in the group’s petition, was that the former governor mismanaged the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and collected about N300million for himself and paid a certain amount to members of the board monthly.
The petitioners had said that IGR bank statements will show the collection and disbursement and transfers to various accounts and other beneficiaries.
The group also raised allegations of diversion of funds meant for Bayelsa Airport Project for the funding of the ex-governor’s reelection.