Agbaso who was reacting to the allegation when a group known as the Owerri Zone Political Leaders Forum (OZOPOLF) paid him a solidarity visit, queried “how could you (Imo State House of Assembly) indict me without following due process? Did the police investigate me or indict me? Did the EFCC or the SSS investigate me or indict me?”
His response followed the insistence and resolution of the state assembly in a plenary to serve impeachment notice on him through substituted means, that is, through electronic and print media, and also by pasting same at the gate of his official quarters.
According to Agbaso, “the joy in my heart knows no bound to have you (the group) pay me this visit. This is about vindication of a man by telling the truth. I assure you as an Owerri man, as a good Imo man, I live by truth, I stand by the truth, I have no need to steal, and I have never stolen.
“I am not even a politician; I am merely a representative of the people: to make sure that the right things are done. The first time I met Joseph Dina (the contractor who owes JPROS International Nig. Ltd) was at the premises of Imo Hotels in company of the Governor. I never approved the contract, I couldn’t give the money. I did not make that payment. Why did he give me the money? Let them look for the money where they kept it,” he stated.
The elder brother of the deputy governor, Chief Martin Agbaso, had earlier told the group how the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha betrayed him after he handed the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to him as well as sponsoring and leading his campaigns, saying that the governor’s antics was to hoodwink the ambition of Owerri zone in the 2015 governorship race.
National Coordinator of OZOPOLF, Chief Charles Amadi, said their mission was to find out what happened and assured them that the group would support proper investigation into the matter, even as they vowed to pursue the issue of fairness and equity.