Recent investigations have shown how deputy governor of Kogi State Edward Onoja, was sacked by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc for involving in a fraudulent act.
Onoja has been the second helmsman in the maximum of Governor Yahyah Bello and has always been seen as a controversial figure.
Reportedly known for violence, Onoja was seen leading thugs to snatch ballot boxes during the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency bye-election in 2018.
He was arrested by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) over an alleged plot to attack a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman (rtd).
His arrest and detention followed a tip-off of an impending attack on Usman by mercenaries identified as ex-Niger Delta militants.
Preliminary confessional statements obtained from the apprehended gang members by DSS allegedly fingered Onoja as the mastermind of the planned attack
Invited by EFCC
It was gathered that due to the fraudulent act he perpetrated while with the foremost bank, Onoja was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2011 but was let off the hook after bribing his way through the process.
According to a Sahara Reporters source, Onoja was said to have issued a fraudulent Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) dated 15th October 2008 to another commercial bank in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.
“He was sacked by GT Bank after the fraudulent act was discovered. He was then the manager of the bank in Lokoja. He can’t deny that, all of us working with him then know him to be a fraudulent and selfish person. If he is sure of himself, tell him to present his letter of resignation from the bank if truly he has one,” a source said.
Acquiring multi-billion properties in Abuja
In the same vein, Sahara Reporters published how Edward Onoja was caught in a web of controversies regarding his acquisition of multi-billion naira worth of properties in the Federal Capital Territory.
Documents show that Onoja had acquired several properties whose value run into many billions of naira since he was appointed by Governor Yahaya Bello as his Chief of Staff and later assumed the office of the Deputy Governor of Kogi State in October 2019.
Two of the properties are currently being used by Onoja’ nephew identified as Friday Adejoh at Kado area of Abuja, a source said.
The building worth over N200 million is located at House 23, D66, BUA Estate.
The source added that about 18 cars fraudulently acquired by the deputy governor were parked in the compound.
“He has two houses in Kado, BUA estate to be precise, and one of the buildings is used by Exposure one, ETcetera Design, a business front run by his nephew, Friday Adejoh for money laundering.
“He also owns the property that houses the inside story magazine; it is about three minutes walk from the Kogi State Government House main gate.
“It’s a fact that he was sacked from GT Bank for loaning out money that he couldn’t account for because the debtors were not willing to pay back at the agreed time.
“One of the debtors is the current Commissioner for Commerce in the state, Hon. Gabriel Olofu. He was at the time the chairman of Olomaboro Local Government Area,” the source said.
