A South-East youth group, working underneath the auspices of Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, on Tuesday, petitioned the Inspector-Basic of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun; the management of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee; and Amnesty Worldwide, to as a matter of urgency, probe the alleged diversion of N3 billion empowerment fund and the eventual arrest of a whistleblower, Comrade Chika Nwoba, in Ebonyi State.
The group, in an announcement signed by its President-Basic, Chief Goodluck Ibem, on Tuesday, equally urged the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, to rise as much as the event, shun sentiment and arrange a panel of inquiry to determine the veracity or in any other case of the allegations of fraud in his administration because it considerations the empowerment fund.
Operatives of the Crack Workforce of Ebonyi State Police Command, on Sunday, had arrested Comrade Nwoba, for allegedly petitioning the EFCC that the Commissioner for Commerce and Trade, Chief Oguzor Offia-Nwaki, alongside three others, diverted N3 billion meant for the empowerment of Ebonyi hawkers throughout main cities within the nation. He has since remained in police custody.
The commissioner, whereas reacting, mentioned the whistleblower, Nwoba, was being mischievous and had no proof to show his claims.
Offia-Nwaki mentioned, “How may I’ve smuggled in 60 names right into a program that was organised by a seven-man committee, led by the serving Commissioner for Commerce and Funding, who acted because the chairman of the committee, which equally had a secretary? And I used to be neither the committee chairman nor the secretary, neither was the N1 billion mapped out for the programme paid into my ministry’s account or an account that I’m signatory to. I’m a member of the committee with Commissioners for Youths and Sports activities, Aviation, Agriculture, and the Nationwide President of FON Youth Motion. How may I’ve waved my magic wand and make these women and men give solely me 60 slots out of the 100 slots?
“What energy do I’ve to exert such an affect on them and propel the committee to do such an outrageous factor with out resistance? Why is not one of the committee members complaining, figuring out how I outsmarted them and introduced in pretend 60 names in line with the noisemaker known as NCN? Why am I Chika Nwoba’s nightmare?”
However the group within the assertion kicked in opposition to Nwoba’s continuous detention, including it was an infringement on his elementary human rights.
The assertion reads partly, “The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, the apex socio-political youth group within the South-East geo-political zone on Sunday, February 10, 2024, received a disturbing data that Comrade Chika Nwoba, a social media influencer and rights activist was arrested in Anambra State by a Crack Workforce from the Ebonyi State Police Command and whisked away to Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. Nwoba was arrested by means of a soft-target, Miss Nwoba, who occurs to be his youngest sister.
“Miss Nwoba, it was reported, was arrested whereas on her manner from the market after dismissal from church, on Sunday and was allegedly handled like a typical felony and compelled to name her elder brother to return to her rescue. She regained her freedom when her elder brother appeared on the scene. At first, feelers mentioned the Ebonyi-born rights activist and social critic was kidnapped and was taken to an unknown location, till dependable items of knowledge got here to us that he was being held by police operatives from the Ebonyi State Police Command.
“What’s Nwoba offence? He had petitioned the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, alleging the Commissioner for Commerce and Trade, Chief Oguzor Offia Nwali, alongside three others of diverted the sum of three billion naira solely, meant for the empowerment of Ebonyi girls and boys who’re hawking and serving as home helps in varied states of the federation, whose situation Governor Francis Nwifuru, had repeatedly mentioned brought about him sleepless nights.
“This cash was meant to erase the disgrace and humiliation Ebonyi indigenes undergo whereas serving as house-helps in individuals’s houses throughout the federation.
“From our findings, this coverage of the state authorities was supposed to remove over 500 Ebonyians hawking and doing menial companies, out of the streets of Nigeria. And in saner climes, such social welfarism for the individuals is often taken severe and monitored to the letter by the authorities to make sure it will get to the target market.
“Our concern right here is to not inquire why the federal government of the day, albeit allegedly left the method unmonitored, however why a whistleblower, who sought an inquiry into how the N3 billion Empowerment Fund was both judiciously disbursed or corruptly diverted by supposed functionaries of the state authorities..
Insisting that as an unbiased apex Igbo youth group, whose core mandate is the propagation of programs that can champion the event and well-being of youths within the South-East geopolitical zone, the group mentioned that it was writing “to attract the eye of the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Inspector-Basic of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the management of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee; Amnesty Worldwide; amongst others, to intervene on this matter.”
It added, “The whistleblower, Comrade Nwoba, has been within the Police custody for 3 days now for merely bringing a supposed rot within the corridors of presidency to public data.
“We due to this fact name on President Tinubu, The IGP, the EFCC and others to compel the manager governor of the state, Chief Francis Nwifuru, to launch a severe probe into the matter and probably save his authorities from unfavorable speculations by Ebonyians on the matter.”
It additional insisted that “the continued detention of Chika Nwoba over a matter that has been duly registered and reported on the EFCC is an infringement on his elementary rights, and due to this fact, additional demanded that nothing untoward ought to occur to him whereas within the Police custody.
It added, “These talked about within the allegation ought to relatively and freely method the anti-graft company to show their innocence than resorting to police brigandage and pointless witch-hunt. They need to take heed to the truth that the matter is already earlier than a legislation enforcement company and will thread with warning.
“The allegation revolves round embezzlement of funds meant for struggling Ebonyi indigenes throughout the nation. Consequently, the governor ought to deploy his administrative powers and be sure that these indicated ought to be dropped at guide.
“Governor Nwifuru must also be sure that any type of iota of sentiment is discarded at ensuring justice reigns within the matter. We search for justice, justice and nothing, however justice.”