N50m Dud Cheque: Mbaka Lied – Gov Okorocha

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has denied issuing a dud N50million cheque to the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri archdiocese, His Grace, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, in 2012.

Okorocha’s denial is in response to statements from the popular televangelist Catholic preacher Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka that Okorocha had issued the dud cheque and it shows lack of appreciation given the massive electoral support Catholics gave him in 2011. Mbaka was speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony at Christ the King Church Parish, Enugu in honour of the immediate past governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim. Okorocha defeated Ohakim in 2011 governorship election.

In a press statement issued by Okorocha’s senior special assistant on media, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor said that the allegation is an embarrassment to him and the state.

He maintained that the allegation was an embarrassment to him and the people of the state.

The statement read: “Aside the publications in the newspapers to that effect, we have continued to be inundated with calls from editors of well-known newspapers and magazines across the nation and online media outfits demanding for the confirmation of the allegation or otherwise of same.

“Let us simply aver and solemnly too, that the claim is not only false, but spurious and curious in many respects. There is no iota of truth in the wild allegation. You can call it an unholy blackmail, taking into account the person behind it.”

The statement further challenge Mbaka to go beyond his claim and provide the proofs , noting that cheques are not invisible objects.

“With this latest blackmail, Nigerians of goodwill would now begin to appreciate the orchestrated and politically motivated lies being unleashed against Governor Rochas Okorocha’s government by those vividly desperate to take over power from him in 2015,” the statement added.

The statement further wondered the interest of the clergy on the matter since Mbaka is not a priest under the Owerri diocese.

“Mbaka honestly has both religious and moral duties at the moment. He should do a follow up to his claim by providing the proof since Archbishop Obinna would not have told him what he said and again being a very decent priest who does not have the history of speaking from both sides of his [Obinna’s] mouth.”

Source: Leadership