Alleged N61.63b fraud: EFCC invites three OSOPADEC officials

•Embattled chairman Ajimuda granted bail •15 exotic vehicles moved to police hqtrs

ANTI-GRAFT agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has invited three more suspects in the alleged N61.63 billion fraud rocking the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
The commission yesterday said it has moved all the 15 exotic vehicles retrieved from OSOPADEC’s chairman Mr Debo Ajimuda to the State Police Headquarters in Akure, the state capital.
Ajimuda, who has been in detention in the last one week, was granted bail yesterday by the anti-graft agency.
But as he was regaining freedom, three key offivials in the Accounts Department of OSOPADEC were summoned for interrogation yesterday by the EFCC.
A source in the commission, who confided in our correspondent, said:  “As part of our investigation, we have retrieved 15 state of the art cars from the suspect’s massive mansion in Akure. The street value of each can may not be less than N10million. But a few others could be about N20million.
“We moved the vehicles to Ondo State Police Command headquarters pending the conclusion of investigation.
“The suspect has made useful statement but we have granted him bail today (Monday) accordingly, in line with the new policy of the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.
“His movement is however restricted to Nigeria to enable us complete our findings.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “There was no way the OSOPADEC chairman could have embezzled such a huge amount alone. We are after other accomplices.
“Already, we have summoned some key workers of the Accounts Department of OSOPADEC for interrogation. They are about three.”
Ajimuda and two other officials of the Commission were picked up by the EFCC over a case of alleged criminal diversion and embezzlement of public funds. 
Their arrest followed a petition on the alleged sleaze in OSOPADEC.
The petitioners alleged that the projects claimed to have been executed by the Commission were either abandoned or do not exist at all.