Wada to AMCON: Plot to criminalise me will fail

The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, on Monday, raised the alarm over an alleged plot to link him to the ownership of debtor companies so as to pave way for the freezing of his personal accounts.

Wada, who spoke through his Chief Communications manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, said there were efforts by some forces at criminalising him using the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) as the linchpin.

AMCON, had last week, claimed it secured an interim order from a Federal High Court in Lagos, empowering the corporation through its appointed receiver/ manager, Chief Robert Ohuoba, to take over the business, trading activities and all fixed and floating assets of Tampetro Nigeria Limited, a company the corporation believes is owned by Wada over unpaid debts.

But Wada ,who  was  listed as the 4th defendant in a suit filed by AMCON against Tampetro Nigeria Limited, has denied any link to the company in an affidavit he swore to in the Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court.

Wada said in the affidavit that he knew nothing about the formation/incorporation of Tampetro and never gave his consent to or signed any document relating to the company with AMCON or any other person.

According to him, the signature purportedly signed on form CAC2.3 (particulars of directors), does not represent his signature and said he was ready to rely on his specimen signature to prove his innocence during the trial.

The former governor insisted that he never had any dealing with Tampetro Nigeria Limited and International Logistics and Fulfillment Services Limited, who were listed as the first and second respondents in the suit filed against them by AMCON.

He said the claim by AMCON that he was a part owner of the debtor companies, was false and contended that he    belonged to the class of persons to be protected by the laws of the land.

The former governor argued that including him as a director in the two companies, was the height of mischief

He expressed the fear that AMCON might be playing out the script of persecuting and harassing perceived opposition elements in the country.

Shaibu said”By the rules of court and by the  act that established AMCON ,Part 5, Sections 49 and 50 “ if an order is sought and granted, the order ought to have been served within 14 days on the ‘debtor’  and if not served ,it becomes void”