Ex Speaker’s Media Aide Petitions Okorocha, EFCC Over Fraud in Uwajumuogu Office
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha would not have been at the Imo State House of Assembly to present the 2014 budget for appropriation, after minor disagreements scuttled the earlier date coupled with the insistence by some members of the state legislature that grey areas in the previous budgets be strengthened, Trumpeta can reveal reasons why the there was a volte face on the matter.
Trumpeta reliably gathered that after the initial resistance, the leadership of the House met and took strategic steps to douse the tension within their ranks. Strategic meetings were held among the lawmakers where a reasonable “message” in form of inducement was sent across to force the lawmakers change their initial hard posture.
It was gathered that a prominent office holder in charge of affairs in government House, Owerri, personally arrived the complex with mouth watering incentives and offers to enable the members of the Imo State House of Assembly shift on the “no budget presentation resolution”. It was after the members received the package that it considered it necessary to open the Chambers for the governor for the 2014 budget presentation.
Despite the alleged provision of inducement, some members deliberately kept away from the chamber. It was difficult for the lawmakers to form quorum before Okorocha arrived for the presentation.
Meanwhile, the former Senior Special Assistant Media to the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, Rt Hon Benji Uwajumogu, Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha has petitioned Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged fraud in the office of Rt Hon Ben Uwajumogu.
In a petition to the Governor signed by Iwuoha and made available to Trumpeta, the former Aide of the Speaker alleged that the Chief of Staff and Acting SSA Media to Uwajumogu “are severely damaging the image and reputation of this government with their fraudulent practices at the Assembly”.
“While the Chief of Staff (without the knowledge of the
Speaker) is massively involved in fraud and corrupt practices, the
Acting SSA on Media (also without the knowledge of the Speaker) is
involved in stealing and diversion of stipends meant for accredited
Correspondents of Imo State House of Assembly. The Assembly
correspondents have written petitions to the Speaker of Imo State
House of Assembly.
“On the 7th of November 2013, I personally wrote a letter to the
Speaker complaining and reporting the activities of the Chief of Staff
(Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe) and his cohorts. I asked the Speaker to set up
a 4 man panel to investigate my allegations. But instead a query was
issued to me 36 days later (on the 13th of December 2013). I responded
to the query immediately, pleading that at least a 4 man panel made up
of honourable members should be constituted to look into my
allegations.
“The intrigues that followed made me to resign my appointment as the
Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties on the 17th of December
2013.
Your Excellency, I am therefore calling on you most respectfully to
compel the leadership of Imo State House of Assembly to set up a 4 man
panel/committee made up of only honourable members who must invite me
in the presence of Pressmen to make statements on the Chief of
Staff and the Acting SSA on Media.
This rescue mission government will only have genuine meaning if
fraudulent and corrupt political appointees like Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe and Emeka Ahaneku are appropriately investigated” Samuelson alleged.
When contacted, Hon Ahaneku said Samuelson is suffering from ignorance, pointing out that there is no such fraud in the office of the Speaker, adding that everybody know Iwuoha as a perpetual petition writer, who wants to discredit those he sees as his political enemies.
