Former Reps Deputy Leader In Constituency Fraud As Constituents Call For EFCC Probe

Leo Okuweh Ogor, the member representing Isoko constituency in the House of Representatives and former Deputy Majority Leader, is said to have allegedly defrauded his constituents of constituency empowerment items provided by the federal government before the general elections. 

Former House Deputy Majority Leader Leo Ogor Okuweh

Leo Okuweh Ogor, the member representing Isoko constituency in the House of Representatives and former Deputy Majority Leader, is said to have allegedly defrauded his constituents of constituency empowerment items provided by the federal government before the general elections.




Constituents in the area are calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies to as a matter of urgency and importance commence probe of the federal lawmaker whom they described as a perpetual corrupt member of the chambers.

SaharaReporters reliably learned that the constituency empowerment items from the coffers of the federal government includes 200 motorcycles, sewing machines, generators, deep freezers, hair dryers and 4 buses among others which were said to have been provided for in the 2014 budget of the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

These items which were said to have been delivered to the lawmaker before the 2015 general elections for full distribution to the optimal benefit of the people of Isoko but have since been kept in his country home in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

SaharaReporters learned that after several months of taking custody of the items at his country home, Mr. Ogor, who claimed to have bought the items from his private pocket, came out to distribute only 96 motorcycles, one bus and few other items in commemoration of the 56th birthday celebration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, which was celebrated on July, 8th, 2015.
Reacting to the development, constituent James Okiemute said that by his own investigations, the federal lawmaker has duped the constituents and called on the EFCC and others to probe into the items.
"We all know... that Leo Ogor is a con man and has in his several years in the house of representatives defrauded us, not a thing of today. Our investigations also revealed that one of his private companies fronting for Leo Ogor, which goes by the name Racen Integrated Services Limited, was used to supply the four buses, which he only gave out just only one. The National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons awarded the contract to the company.

"These items were from the coffers of the federal government as part of constituency projects and we beginning to wonder why Leo Ogor was going about saying they were bought with his own money to empower his constituents. In his years at the national assembly, Leo Ogor has been defrauding us, his constituents. All contracts in the constituency were handled by his private companies and has continued to use his brothers, relations, cronies and political stooges to front,"

 the constituent fumed.
Another visibly angry constituent who gave his name as Oruaroghene stated that Mr. Ogor handles both light, road and other contracts brought to the constituency and has always shortchanged the people when it comes to empowerment of constituents.

According to Oruaroghene, "We have been made to understand that apart from defrauding us the constituents, Leo Ogor did not supply to specification some of the items especially the motorcycles... We are therefore calling on EFCC and ICPC to commence a probe on this man without any delay. We just hope this time around the anti-graft agencies must do something, unlike before when he was untouchable."

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the board of trustees of the Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Initiative, Abuja, lawyer Charles Edo, has decried what he called the diversion of 200 motorcycles and 4 buses meant as constituency items to the people of Isoko by Mr. Ogor.

In a statement signed by Chief Charles Edo and obtained by SaharaReporters disclosed that the constituency items were provided for "In the 2014 budget of the National Commission for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons and expect the full implementation of the project to the optimal benefit of the people of Isoko nation.

The Abuja based leader of the anti-corruption organisation called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a probe panel to investigate the utilization and implementation of the constituency projects by members of the national assembly which has been subject to abuse and most times ended in their private pockets.

While distributing the items, Mr. Ogor stated that the gesture was his resolve to, “instead of wasting money on newspapers adverts, to celebrate the 56th birthday of the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa."