IMMEDIATE past Commissioner for Investment, Public/Private Partnership and Other Related Matters in Edo State, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, has refuted the state government’s claim that he resigned because the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) promised to protect him over his alleged involvement in fraud at home and abroad.

   Idahosa, barely one week after he donated his salary as commissioner to members of his constituency in Ovia South-West local council, a practice he said would continue monthly, suddenly resigned on the premise that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was fond of insulting President Goodluck Jonathan and elders in the state.

   The state government subsequently issued a statement that he was under investigation following petitions from Nigeria and abroad that Idahosa engaged in advanced fee fraud (popularly called 419), the petitioners purporting to be his victims.

   However, Idahosa told newsmen in Benin City Tuesday that the allegation was laughable as it lacks fact. He insisted he has never been involved in any criminal act, arrested or tried by any law enforcement agency – in the country and abroad. 

   “There is no fact in that,” he said. “I have never been involved in any criminal or fraudulent act in my life – either in Nigeria or abroad, nor have I been arrested or tried by the law enforcement agents within and outside the country.

   “Like you can as well see for yourselves, this is my residence; you can see how transparent the whole compound is. This compound is one of the most see-through compounds in the whole of Benin City. 

   “A fraudster cannot occupy this kind of compound, a fraudster will not live this kind of open lifestyle and this premises alone is an indication that this person has a clean livelihood.”