A rights group, the Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI), has petitioned President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, advising him to reject the alleged nomination of Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu, outgoing Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, as a minister by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

YARPTI in the petition, a copy of which was made available to News Express, accused Uwajumogu of monumental corruption, thus making him unfit to become a minister. Dated May 11, 2015, the petition was signed by YARPTI President Kenneth Uwadi, and copied Amnesty International.

Contacted by News Express, Uwajumogu dismissed the allegation, describing Uwadi and another activist, Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha (whom the Speaker believes had a hand in the petition) as liars and mentally unbalanced. Uwajumogu said: “Why are you people still listening to him? He is a mad man. There is no truth in these allegations. You can go and investigate yourself.”

Reminded that the petition was not from Iwuoha but by YARPTI, Uwajumogu, who appeared irritated, replied: “Is it not Kenneth Uwadi? If you want to publish, publish.”

Below is the petition by YARPTI:

His Excellency, President-elect Gen Muhammadu Buhari, once again we say congratulations on your victory at the 2015 Nigerian presidential election. The youths of Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI) arwe happy to note that you have promised Nigerians that you will not betray or disappoint them. You made this comment in Abuja, while receiving a delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters from Taraba State. YARPTI is a human rights organisation in Nigeria: unmasking the corrupt as one of our four-point agenda. We are pleased that you promised Nigerians that you will fight corruption, unemployment and insecurity. We assure you that we shall render the necessary cooperation in unmasking the corrupt in Nigeria. It is, indeed, time to stop the corrupt from hiding their identity and illegal activities. Corrupt politicians and business people escape justice and enjoy luxury lifestyles funded by stolen public money, and smuggling of illicit funds through shadowy secret companies.

Ministerial nomination from Imo State

We call on your Excellency not to accept the nomination of Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu, outgoing Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an ambassador or any other federal position for the following reasons:

(1)The said Uwajumogu has not cleared his name of heavy corruption allegations levelled against him by his former media aide, Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha. Uwajumogu has several explanations to offer the people of Imo State over the petition forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), by his former aide, dated February 18, 2014. The said petition to EFCC was also made public in several newspapers and magazines, and on the Internet. The petition disclosed how fraudulent contracts for road projects worth billions of naira were awarded by him as Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, without due process; and how he used the proceeds of the crime to acquire several real estate properties in Nigeria and abroad, whereas the same state is in dire need of infrastructure, besides facing serious youth unemployment issues including unpaid worker’s salaries.

(2) He should tell Nigerians how he acquired the following, as revealed by his aide: N500 million Asphalt plant on Onitsha Road, Owerri; 15 mansions on Chief Ben Uwajumogu Street, Federal Housing Estate, Umuguma, Owerri-west LGA; Jasmine Hotels and Suites, behind Imo Concorde Hotel, valued at over N70 million; over 200 plots of land located in Owerri-West LGA; N400 million mansion at Ihitte/Uboma and two other mansions at Ihitte/Uboma; mansions at Aba and Umuahia; N760 million Crush Rock Industry in Ebonyi State; N500 million private hotel in Abuja and N750 million private hotel in Lagos. The pictures of all the properties he acquired with stolen public funds were also sent to the EFCC and also made public on the Internet.

(3) The same aide accused him of rituals and occult practices, and explained how he (Uwajumogu) summoned all his senior aides (to his house) in the presence of a native doctor, where he (Uwajumogu) was stack naked and asked them to drink a concoction and kiss his manhood.

(4) The same aide accused Uwajumogu of attempting to assassinate him, for exposing his fraudulent activities. This matter was reported to the former Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulmajid Ali, who bluntly refused to investigate it. Note that three of Uwajumogu’s aides have so far been assassinated, namely: Pastor Emmanuel Adoba, Hon Kingsley Nkemka and Mr Chidi.

(5) He (Uwajumogu) committed heavy human rights violation in Imo State by ordering for the arrest of Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha together with his wife, dumped them in prison, without trial for 11 months: they were subjected to torture, contrary to Article 5, 9 and 10 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

YARPT strongly believes that such a man does not deserve the position of a minister, an ambassador or any other public office. His nomination in a country where you have vowed to fight corruption is a “black kite” that should not fly.

You have an obligation to our countrymen and women who suffer and are impoverished because of the activities of a group of people such as Uwajumogu, who take the money from the public coffers to benefit themselves. Because of such people we have less education, less access to potable water, and less access to healthcare and housing. His activities as Speaker of Imo House of Assembly should be looked into. He should be investigated.

•Photo shows Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu.

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