ICPC Never Invited Me Before Declaring Me Wanted, Says Buhari’s Former In-law

Gimba Kumo, a former son-in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he was never invited for a meeting by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) before he was publicly declared wanted.

Kumo, a former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, said this in a letter dated 18 May and addressed to Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman of the ICPC.

But in the letter signed by his lawyers, Chief O.U Orji, and Uwem Umoawan, Kumo stated that he was never at any time served any invitation letter by the anti-graft agency.

He stated that he had honoured previous invitations by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that there was no reason for him not to honour the invitation of ICPC.

The letter read: “We were reliably informed by our client that he was never served with any official invitation in line with Section 29, 30, 31, and 32 of the ICPC Act, 2000.

“Since he left the FMBN, his private office and home addresses are well known to the public as both the DSS and the EFCC have also effected service/invitation to him personally which he honoured without any hesitation on the same issues as he does not have anything to hide.”

Kumo argued that the ICPC had violated its own Act by declaring him wanted without following due process, adding that he had been cleared of the same allegations by the DSS and EFCC.

The letter read further: “Suffice it to be noted that the same allegations were dully investigated by the DSS and the EFCC and reports have been sent to the President.

“All the documents ranging from the invitation letters and our client’s reply with the documentary proofs will be found if demanded.

“Sir, it is instructive to ask why the witch-hunt? Why the hurry to declare our client wanted? Why the publication without properly inviting our client in accordance with the law? What actually is the aim behind these investigations having been investigated by the DSS and EFCC on the same subject matter?”

Kumo said he was ready to approach the ICPC the moment he is properly served with an invitation.