EACC probes Rongo lawmaker Paul Abuor over embezzlement of Sh122 million
Rongo Member of Parliament Abuor Paul.
The anti-corruption watchdog is investigating allegations that Rongo MP Paul Abuor embezzled up to Sh122 million from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), together with armed security officers, conducted a raid at his office in Rongo Town and Lavington, Nairobi, on Thursday to collect evidence on the case.
The officers also went to the legislator’s home in Kitere Village on the outskirts of Rongo Town where they gathered more information.
The MP was later arrested and escorted to EACC headquarters at Integrity Centre in Nairobi where he was asked to record a statement on the case.
Mr Abour, however, denied the claims.
"I have never traded with Rongo NG-CDF. I own a drilling machine which I hire out to contractors," he said after being interrogated by sleuths at Integrity House.
Mr Abour said he presented all the information the detectives needed.
"They arrived at my house and showed me a search warrant. I allowed them to conduct the searches and they asked me to come here in the afternoon. I drove myself here and I am driving myself out of here. I was not arrested," he said outside Integrity Centre.
He said the EACC investigation has nothing to do with fraud but alleged conflict of interest.
EACC Chief executive officer Abdi Mohamud said the case in Rongo was among other investigations that they are conducting.
Most of them involve embezzlement of public funds under NG-CDF, National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), Women Enterprise Fund and other devolved funds.
Mr Mohamud said the embezzlement is perpetrated largely through conflict of interest, multi-million payments for services not rendered and payroll fraud involving ghost workers.
“The commission urges State Officers to desist from abusing their positions of trust and authority to the detriment of the very citizens they were elected or appointed to serve,” he said.
