Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The arrest of former spokesperson Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chika Nwoba, has continued to generate condemnation in Ebonyi State.
The Senatorial candidate for the Party for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District bye-election, Silas Onu and Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL) have condemned the arrest and incarceration of Mr Nwoba.
Mr Ọnụ said Mr Nwoba, who is a Member of the Interim Management Committee of the party in the state, should be commended for being a whistleblower instead of being arrested.
Back Story
Mr Nwoba had in a series of posts on his Facebook page accused the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Iguzobe Offia-Nwali, of embezzlement of funds meant for empowerment of indigenous street hawkers across the country.
He alleged thy the commissioner smuggled in 60 names into the list of 100 indigenes based in Anambra State.
He followed it up with a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Enugu Zonal Office against the Commissioner and other members of the Committee.
Mr Nwoba was however arrested on Sunday in Awka, Anambra State, and subsequently arraigned before a magistrate court presided over by Mrs. Lilian Ogodo in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Tuesday.
The court remanded him at the state correctional center for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the matter and adjourned the matter to March 1, 2024.
Sad Development – Onu
Mr Onu in a statement on Thursday said it is a sad development that exposing corruption in the state has become life-threatening.
He said: “It’s sad that in today’s Ebonyi State, exposing corruption comes with a threat to the life of the whistleblower. I thought that Nwoba Chika Nwoba had taken steps to verify and substantiate his allegations by writing a petition to the EFCC.
“Why will the police be so willing to be used for purposes of silencing Nwoba? Well, they have succeeded in keeping him in prison via a well-coordinated arraignment before a court they knew had no jurisdiction, and the magistrate delivered what they actually desired.”
Mr Onu, who lamented over the situation, regretted that the unprofessional action of some security agencies in the country has jeopardized the essence of community policing and is a pointer that the idea of state police would not succeed in the country.
“This is why state police will never work in Nigeria. Imagine how the federal police are already being used by an ordinary commissioner.
“Chika Nwoba won’t be in prison forever, and the allegations he made will also not disappear, as some of us are now willing to join in and ensure that the truth is not swept under the carpet via intimidation and harassment.
“Now, we will all become Chika Nwoba and ensure that all acts of corruption are exposed, whoever is involved.”
Onu called on Governor Francis Nwifuru, to ensure that the rule of law is maintained in the state.
“His harassment is hereby condemned, and I call on the Governor of Ebonyi State to rein in his appointees by ensuring that no one is placed beneath the law.
“I will formally ask Transparency International to take steps towards unearthing the veracity of the allegations against the appointees of the State Governor. I do hope and pray that their books are transparent and that the beneficiaries of the said fund are traceable targets of the said fund.
“We cannot be complacent because the police will be used to harass us and then refuse to expose corruption; we will take up the fight from where they have distracted Chika. I know that he had some facts to back up his claims before going public, as he never speaks flippantly.” Onu stated.
COSEYL calls for probe
COSElYL in its statement urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Amnesty International to, as a matter of urgency, probe the alleged diversion of the said N1bn empowerment fund and the eventual arrest Mr Chika Nwoba.
The group equally urged the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, to rise to the occasion, shun sentiment and set up a panel of inquiry to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations of fraud in his administration as it concerns the empowerment fund.
The South-East youth group stated this in a statement by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem.
It described the arrest and subsequent remand of Mr Nwoba as disturbing.
“What is Nwoba offence? He had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Oguzor Offia-Nwali, alongside three others, diverted the sum of Three Billion Naira (N3,000,000,000) only, meant for the Empowerment of Ebonyi boys and girls who are hawking and serving as house helps in the various states of the Federation, whose condition Governor Francis Nwifuru had repeatedly said caused him sleepless nights.
“This money was meant to erase the shame and humiliation Ebonyi indigenes go through while serving as house helps in people’s homes across the federation.
“From our findings, this policy of the State Government was intended to take away over 1500 Ebonyians hawking and doing menial businesses out of the streets of Nigeria.
“In saner climes, such social welfare for the people is usually taken seriously and monitored to the letter by the authorities to ensure it gets to the target audience.
“Our concern here is not to inquire why the Government of the day albeit allegedly left the process unmonitored, but why a whistleblower, who sought an inquiry into how the Empowerment Fund was either judiciously disbursed or corruptly diverted by supposed functionaries of the State Government (sic).
“As an unbiased apex Igbo youth group whose core mandate is the propagation of causes that will champion the development and well-being of youths in the South-East geopolitical zone, we write to draw the attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun; the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); the Amnesty International; among others to intervene in this matter.
“The whistleblower, Comrade Nwoba, had been in Police custody for three days before he was remanded and remanded in prison for simply bringing a supposed rot in the corridors of government to public knowledge.
“We, therefore, call on President Tinubu, the IGP, the EFCC and others to compel the Executive Governor of the State, Chief Francis Nwifuru, to launch a serious probe of the matter and possibly save his government from negative speculations by Ebonyians on the matter.
“The continual detention of Chika Nwoba over a matter that has been duly registered and reported to the EFCC is an infringement on his fundamental rights. We, therefore, further demand that nothing untoward should happen to him while in the Police custody.
“Those mentioned in the allegation should rather and freely approach the anti-graft agency to prove their innocence rather than restoring to police brigandage and unnecessary witch-hunt. They should be conscious of the fact that the matter is already before a law enforcement agency and should tread with caution.
“The allegation revolves around embezzlement of funds meant for suffering Ebonyi indigenes across the country. Consequently, the Governor should deploy his administrative powers and ensure that those indicated should be brought to book.
“Governor Nwifuru should also ensure that any form of iota of sentiment is discarded to make sure justice reigns in the matter. We seek justice, justice and nothing, but justice,” they said.
Commissioner denies allegations
Reacting, the Commissioner, Mr Oguzor Offia-Nwali said the whistleblower, Nwoba, was being mischievous and had no evidence to prove his claims.
“How could I have smuggled in 60 names in a programme that was organised by seven committee members led by a serving Commissioner for Trade and Investment who acted as the Chairman of the committee which equally had a Secretary?
“I was neither the committee chairman nor Secretary, and neither was the N1 billion mapped out for the programme paid into my ministry account or an account that I am a signatory to.
“I am a member of the committee with Commissioners For Youths and Sports, Aviation, Agriculture, and the National President of FON Youth Movement. How could I have waved my magic wand and made these men and women give only me 60 slots out of the 100 slots meant for Anambra State?
“What power do I have to exert such an influence on them and propel the committee to do such an outrageous thing without resistance?
“Why are none of the committee members complaining knowing how I outsmarted them and brought in fake 60 names, according to the noisemaker called NCN? Why am I Nwoba Chika Nwoba’s nightmare?,” he asked.
