The House Permanent Secretary of Delta state Government facing another N10.7 Million Scandal

Ogidi-Gbegbaje quoted the sum N10,750,000 million for the purchase of 30 hamperers in a memo addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa with No. GHA.782 / T18/6 and track file No. 530305.

The Permanent Secretary, House and Protocol of the Delta State Government, Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje, was again enmeshed in another round of financial scandal amounting to N10.7 million.

In the event of a financial failure of the Delta Government, Ogidi-Gbegbaje shall also take part in the construction of the VVIP House in Asaba, the State Capital of the Delta State Government.

The building, collected, was repainted only when the permanent secretary and other government officials allegedly pocket a portion of the money.

Ogidi-Gbegbaje pocketed N10,750,000 million meant for prominent Deltans to buy Christmas hampers.

In a memo addressed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Ogidi-Gbegbaje with No. GHA.782 / T18/6 and track file No. 530305 quoted the sum N10,750,000 million for the purchase of 30 hampers intended to be presented to some prominent Deltans during the 2019 Christmas festivities.

In the memo, the Permanent Secretary appealed to Governor Okowa to "graciously approve the sum of N10,750,000 million during the Christmas and New Year celebrations for the procurement and distribution of 30 hampers for 30 prominent Deltans in and out of the state."

The memo read, "allow me inform Your Excellency of the need for the state government to appreciate prominent Deltans inside and outside the state for their support and contribution to the development of Delta State during the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

"As customary to the directorate, these categories of personalities are provided on behalf of the state government with giant size hampers during the festive period. Each hamper will contain 35 pieces of golden cutlery, wines, coffee, UK Camel Tea-sets, pens, beverages, champagne, assorted honey tea and a set of towels.

Also Read: NASS suspends recruitment exercise - 774,000 Jobs

Speaking in confidence, state government official said, "The government led by Ifeanyi Okowa is known for frivolous funding requests running into several thousand million naira, which have always ended up in private pockets.

"The N10,750,000 million allegedly used by the permanent secretary for the purchase of 30 Christmas hampers went the usual way and ended up in private pockets. This was the same way he claimed he had used N43.4 million when it was only repainted for the renovation of the government house guest house.

"Can the Permanent Secretary give the names of the thirty prominent Deltans he claimed to have given the thirty hampers? Were the thirty hampers bought and delivered? If so, can we see the proof and names of the recipients as claimed?"

When asked to respond to the allegation, Ogidi-Gbegbaje said, "It's an annual thing; we are distributing hampering to senior citizens and traditional senior rulers. The hamper prices rage, depending on the quality of things in the hampers you have.