COSEYL urges probe of missing N3bn in Ebonyi

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone, has called on President Bola Almade Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, and the EFCC to compel Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State to launch a probe over the disappearing N3 billion meant for the citizens of Ebonyi State with a view to saving the image of his government.

The apex Igbo youth group, through the President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, said that 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); and Amnesty International, among others, have already been drawn to intervene in the matter.

They observed that the whistleblower, Comrade Nwoba, has been in police custody for three days now after his arrest for simply bringing a supposed rot in the corridors of government to public knowledge.

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According to the group, the continual detention of Chika Nwoba over a matter that has been duly registered and reported at the EFCC is an infringement on his fundamental rights.

He said, “We demand that nothing untoward should happen to him while in police custody.”

The PG advised that those mentioned in the allegation should rather and freely approach the anti-graft agency to prove their innocence rather than restore police brigandage and unnecessary witch hunts.

They should be conscious of the fact that the matter is already before a law enforcement agency and should tread with caution.

He said, “The allegation revolves around the 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.”

He said: “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.”

Ibem, who expressed great shock over the arrest of Comrade Chika Nwoba, a social media influencer and human rights activist, last Sunday, February 10, 2024, in Anambra State by a crack team from the Ebonyi State Police Command, said that she was even whisked away to Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.

He regretted that Nwoba was arrested by a soft target, Miss Nwoba, who happens to be his youngest sister.

He said, “Miss 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.

COSEYL observed that 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.

He recalled that 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 help in the various states of the Federation, whose condition Governor Francis Nwifuru had repeatedly said caused him sleepless nights.

This money, according to him, was meant to erase the shame and humiliation Ebonyi indigenes go through while serving as housekeepers in people’s homes across the federation.

COSEYL equally gathered that the policy of the state government was intended to take over 500 Ebonyians hawking and doing menial businesses out of the streets of Nigeria.

He said, “Our concern here is not to inquire why the government of the day allegedly left the process unmonitored, but why a whistleblower sought an inquiry into how the N3 billion empowerment fund was either judiciously disbursed or corruptly diverted by supposed functionaries of the state government.”

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