Ex-Bayelsa governor denies diversion of N17.5 billion 9 years ago

Former governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial district has denied allegations that he diverted the sum of N17.5 billion ecological funds in 2012.

He said his political traducers were proping up spurious allegations against after he has left office as governor of Bayelsa State.

His denial was contained in a statement he issued and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, stating that a petition against him which led to his quizzing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was frivolous and laced with falsehood.

The petition, he said accused him of using N17.5 billion for his reelection in 2019.

Dickson who was released after being grilled by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday said, he honoured the invitation and claimed to have made clarifications.

The former Bayelsa State Governor said about two weeks ago he received an invitation from the EFCC to clarify some issues relating to assets declarations as alleged by an NGO.

“On account of our busy schedule at the time, I wrote to inform them and we agreed to reschedule the interview for Tuesday.

Dickson insisted that there was no election in 2019 as Bayelsa’s timetable wasn’t the same with general election.

According to him, his family investments which was topical in the petition was incorporated while being a member of the House of Reps to hold my family assets and investments which were made between 1996 and 2012 before I became Governor.