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Enugu lawyer urges EFCC to probe Chime

By Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
31 July 2015   |   4:19 am
THE quite life, which the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime had vowed to live after the demands of his previous office may soon be interrupted should the Federal High Court, Enugu grant an application seeking an order to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe him.
Chime

Chimechime

THE quite life, which the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime had vowed to live after the demands of his previous office may soon be interrupted should the Federal High Court, Enugu grant an application seeking an order to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe him.

The suit which was brought pursuant to order 34 and 56 (1) of the Federal High Court rules 2009, the EFCC act and the Freedom of Information Act, followed the failure of the anti-graft agency to act on a petition by the former National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ray Nnaji.

Nnaji had last month petitioned the EFCC and alleged several official corruptions to include embezzlement, stealing, misappropriation, forgery and criminal conversion of public property against Chime when he was governor between 2007-2015.

The court, presided over by Justice D.V Agishi had on July 2, granted Nnaji leave to file the application in which he joined the Code of Conduct Bureau, Chime and his brother, Jide, the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, as well as Chime’s former Chief of staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo.

Others are former Managing Director of the State Housing Corporation who is now State Chairman of the PDP, Ikeje Asogwa, former Commissioner for Lands and member representing Nkanu East/West, Chukwuemeka Ujam, Mrs. May Oji, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the state Attorney-General.

Nnaji told reporters that there was no going back on the prosecution of the former governor and others that worked with him to make them account for their stewardship.     “I told you people that I am going to go to court if nothing happened after two weeks. I have kept faith with my promise.

I had filed motion on the 5th June for leave to compel the EFCC to do their work. So the process in the judicial review is that first of all, you must seek the leave of the court before you file the main action. I sought the leave and on the 2nd July, the leave was granted,” he said.

He stated that he had gone to the office of the EFCC following their invitation where he adopted his petition, adding that he had applied that the commission consolidate the petitions against Chime and Mrs. Nwobodo.    “I will be very happy to see Sullivan and Nwobodo prosecuted, if the two of them are prosecuted, other people in the leadership position will be very careful and know how to handle public funds.

I don’t know why EFCC is lukewarm over this issue. They were making me to believe that they have started action but till now nothing has been done about my petitions. That is why we must prosecute the matter in court,” Nnaji said.

2 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    Mr. Ray Nnaji has indeed come across as an intelligent and well thought out individual. He has so far taken all the right steps as provided by the law to present a formal petition to the EFCC against the former governor of the state and others. Let’s hope that Mr Nnaji does not, out of anger of inaction by the EFCC scamper his own good case. Having followed the procedure brilliantly to this stage, then let us wait and see how this plays out with the EFCC. It is now too late to be
    swept under the red carpet

  • Author’s gravatar

    While I do not subscribe to corruption no matter who is involved, I am inclined to think that Enugu has developed a culture of disgracing their ex-governors. Chimaraoke Nnamani disgraced Jim Nwobodo, Sullivan Chime disgraced Chimaraoke. Now, it is Sullivan’s turn. Who knows the next. But I think it will be good if Enugu people can find a way of settling their problems in-house because there is no State in Nigeria without internal problems.