Politics
THE Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, the apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone on Sunday, February 10, got a disturbing information that Chika Nwoba, a social media influencer and rights activist, was arrested in Anambra State by a crack team from the Ebonyi State Police Command and whisked away to Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi state. Nwoba was arrested through a soft-target, Miss Nwoba, who happens to be his youngest sister.
Nwoba, it was reported, was arrested while on her way from the market after dismissal from Church, on Sunday and was allegedly treated like a common criminal and forced to call her elder brother to come for her rescue. She regained her freedom when her elder brother appeared at the scene. At first, feelers said the Ebonyi-born rights activist and social critic was kidnapped and was taken to an unknown location, until reliable pieces of information came to us that he was being held by the Police Operatives from the Ebonyi State Command.
What is Nwoba offence? He had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging the commissioner for Commerce and Industry, 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, COSEYL said in a statement made available to Realnews on February 13.
From COSEYL findings, the policy of the State Government was intended to take away over 500 Ebonyians hawking and doing menial businesses, out of the streets of Nigeria. And in saner climes, such social welfarism for the people is usually taken serious 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 N3Billion Empowerment Fund was either judiciously disbursed or corruptly diverted by supposed functionaries of the State Government,” it said.
As unbiased apex Igbo youth group, whose core mandate is the propagation of courses 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, it said.
The whistleblower, Nwoba, has been in the police custody for three days now for simply bringing a supposed rot in the corridors of government to public knowledge.
“We therefore call on President Tinubu, The IG, the EFCC and others to compel the Executive Governor of the State, Chief Francis Nwifuru to launch a serious probe on the matter and possibly save his government from negative speculations by Ebonyians on the matter,” it said..
The continual detention of Nwoba over a matter that has been duly registered and reported at 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 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 thread 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 at making sure justice reigns in the matter. We seek for justice, justice and nothing, but justice.
14th February, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Chika Nwoba COSEYL
