A Coalition of Human rights lawyers and Ohanaeze chieftains in Abuja have warned former governor of Abia state to stop parading himself as Igbo leader until he clears himself of the alleged N7.6 billion fraud levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The concerned Igbo leaders said it would be ridiculous for the same ex governor who allegedly looted over N7 billion from the state treasury to present himself as Igbo leader and to so about droping president Mohammadu Buhari name in his selfish political quest .
They said ” We know our leaders, and we would not allow people with questionable character to continue to drag the Igbo nation to the mud “
“It was even a mockery of our moral standard for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to have fielded the former governor in the last National Assembly election in the face of his trial over alleged N7.6billion fraud .
The concerned leaders at a news briefing yesterday said as in his character ,the former governor displayed his rascality and fraud in the last election as he allegedly influenced the result of the Abia north senatorial election.
According to them, t”his fraud must not stand and thank God this clear electoral robbery is being challenged at the tribunal and we hope that the judiciary as the last hope of the common man will help to recover this alleged stolen mandate :
Convener of the group Bar. Uche Nnadi at Abuja said ” the sudden suspension of the trial of Chief Kalu may have further put to ridicule the anti corruption agenda of president Buhari . Unfortunately the same politician who ordinarily should be in jail for allegedly defrauding the state over N7 billion is busy parading himself as Igbo leader in Abuja .
“And today the former governor is busy telling every ears that cares to listen that he is closer to the president than any other Igbo and that he has the mandate of the APC to deliver the south East to president Buhari in the last election”.
But the Ohanaeze group in a swift reaction said “we know our leaders, and we take exception to Chief Kalu or any other corrupt politician to claim that he represent or speak for the Igbos under any guise ” .
The same former governor who was in and out of a Germany hospital last year for medical treatment participated actively in the last election.
“But the group which spoke through Chief Ogbuagu Amadi in a reaction at the weekend however said ,” we are not convinced with the story about the medical trip of the former governor and we insist that president Mohammadu Buhari should order investigation into the circumstances leading to the reported sudden travel to Germany by chief Uzor Kalu which according to him was a clear violation of the travel ban allegedly slammed on him on others 49 Nigerians by the presidency .
“Chief Amadi claimed that the reported travel may be part of the desperate ploy by the former state chief executive to delay his trial over alleged N7.6 billion fraud levelled against him by the EFCC.
“, that for chief kalu to travel he needed to approach the high court for the release of his travel document ” but we are not sure this was done and yet he travelled abroad unhindered ”
Our people want speedy trial of the former governor and we are worried over his desperation to frustrate his quick trial over the N7.6 billion fraud levelled against him by EFCC.
There should be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption , and it is worrisome for somebody whose international passport is allegedly being witheld can travel outside the country in a private jet at his convenient ” We are however happy when justice Mohammadu Idris of lagos High court gave chief kalu seven days to appear before the court to answer questions over the alleged N7. 6 billion fraud charges levelled against him by EFCC.
It is even sad that such a person could be cleared and fielded by APC as it’s standard bearer for Abia north senatorial seat in the 2019 election .
The former governor was reported to have travelled to Germany on Monday along with his wife, Ifunanya,for a major surgery for an undisclosed ailment. Buhari Government must act now.
