A media aide of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has denied stories published in Saturday Vanguard and Nation on Saturday, that claimed that the Governor is in trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) over N400 million Diezani poll cash, paid to the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, in a statement issued on Sunday said that “the newspapers claimed that the commission had moved to seize two hotels belonging to the governor in Abakaliki and Port Harcourt and that fronts of His Excellency had refunded N90 million out of the N400 million.

“One of the reporters either forgot that he had written and published the same issue on August 31 or that he allowed himself to be used by some people in the EFFC to bring the image of my principal to disrepute.

“The only difference between the old publications and these latest but stale ones is where they mentioned last (Friday) night and the use of anonymous sources.

“I am therefore at a loss on what they stood to gain by these publications. I state here once again that Governor Umahi established his business empire, including Osborn La Palm Royal Resort long before he became the deputy governor.

“He had before serving as the state’s Deputy Governor relinquished his interests in the companies he founded as required by law. I also use this medium to let the writers and newspapers know that the governor cannot be in trouble over the poll cash because as a sitting governor, he enjoys immunity from prosecution.

“He cannot be in trouble since the money in question was neither used by him nor any of the mentioned companies. The EFFC knows this. It should therefore know where to beam its searchlight.”

•Photo shows Governor Umahi.

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