The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has described the bribery allegation against some of its officials over the Gbaran Ubie Gas Project in Bayelsa State as a calculated attempt to deceive the public.

A statement sent to our press unit by the commission, signed by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said, “The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a report which was widely syndicated in the newspapers and online media on Monday, October 6, 2014, alleging the involvement of officials of the commission in a bribery scandal over the Gbaran Ubie Gas Project in Bayelsa State.

“The commission is constrained to respond in the interest of readers who might have been misled by the sponsored story.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no truth in the claim by Chidi David Adebanya that officials of the commission demanded gratification from him to throw out the case, as it is inconceivable that any official of the commission would ask for a bribe, let alone promising to make returns to the attorney general and minister of justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke. This is preposterous! According to Adebanya, the bribes were demanded in 2011. The important question is, why has it taken him three solid years to go public with the allegation?”

The statement added, “The reality is that nothing of such happened. The contrivance is a ploy to discredit the case instituted by the EFCC against Adebanya. The petitioner is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja on charges of obtaining money under false pretences.

“He allegedly used his position as Interface Manager for Shell to extort his employer through a phony consultancy in connivance with officials of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Urban Development.”

“He allegedly awarded himself a consultancy contract using his company “Forstech” being run by his girlfriend, Uzoma Ibe, an accomplice. The “team” milked Shell of N1.9billion in consultancy charges for the Gbaran Ubie gas project.”

The statement further said that rather than prove his innocence in court, Adebanya resorted to self-help by petitioning the House of Representatives and seeking to scandalise the EFCC through spurious allegations.