A political pressure group, Save Abia Now (SAN) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, over alleged financial misconduct, executive recklessness and abuse of office while in office from 2007-2015.

In a statement by its Director for Media & Publicity Comrade Kelechi Nkworie made available to pressmen in Umuahia on Friday, SAN complained bitterly that TA Orji’s arrest and prosecution is long overdue.

The group accused Chief Orji of mismanaging the local government funds “which is evident in the total collapse of infrastructure in the state, backlog of unpaid salaries amounting to billions of naira and diverting of public properties to his cronies and family members.”

SAN wondered why Theodore Orji would be allowed to be in the Senate “despite the weighty allegations and petitions by Abians against him and the pending case he has to answer when he was the Chief of Staff to his predecessor, Dr. Orji UzorKalu, from 1999-2007.

The group called on the EFCC, ICPC, and CCB “to immediately commence investigations over misappropriation of funds, fiscal indiscipline, and diversion of public properties during his tenure as a governor and re-open the pending case against the ex-governor.”

According to SAN, “It is against the rule of morality and the plight of suffering Abians to allow Theodore Orji to be in the Senate as that will encourage impunity in government circles and set a bad precedent for the incumbent and the Federal Government’s commitment in fighting corruption and graft.”

The group called on President MuhammaduBuhari to take bold steps “to prosecute all those that looted our commonwealth, no matter their status.” It challenged Buhari to fulfill his campaign promise to fight corruption and recover stolen public funds and properties, saying: “Nigerians are expecting much from him on the fight against impunity and corruption.”

•Photo shows Senator TA Orji

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