The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters has commenced investigations into the various political killings and corrupt practices allegedly perpetrated by the immediate past Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu. Others under investigation for the various political killings and fraud in Imo State include Uwajumogu’s aides namely, his Chief of Staff, Mr Kodichi Anamekwe, Emeka Ahaneku, Dan Orji, etc.

This was sequel to the insightful petition and revelation by socio-political crusader, Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, on June 26, 2015. In the petition, Citizen Iwuoha gave details of how Pastor Emmanuel Adoba, Messrs Kingsley Nkemka and Chidi, Cpl Chinedu, etc (all Uwajumogu’s aides), were brutally murdered, and that fingers were pointing in the direction of Speaker Uwajumogu, Anamekwe, Ahaneku and Orji.

Also, in the said petition, the activist gave details of how one Mr Franklin Okoli, an architect, was brutally murdered on June 3, 2014 by five boys reportedly sent by Uwajumogu and his aides to assassinate him (Iwuoha), but ended up killing the said Okoli. To cover up the crime, Uwajumogu allegedly connived with the Imo State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police (CP) Abdulmajid Ali, to accuse Iwuoha and his wife of the murder. As a result, the activist and his wife were later remanded in prison custody, where they spent 11 months and 6 ½ months respectively, before Almighty God rescued them by ensuring that the charges against them were quashed at the Owerri High Court 4, presided over by Hon Justice Irene Duruoha Igwe, on April 27, 2015.

The Force Headquarters is also investigating the various contract scams involving Uwajumogu and his aides, especially the dubious road contracts scams, ghost workers scam, financial assistance scam, etc. They would want to know how the former speaker abandoned his duties of lawmaking, oversight, and appropriation and embarked on road contract awards.

Iwuoha was also reported to have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 18, 2014 exposing the various methods Uwajumogu and his aides used to loot Imo State blind.

Although the EFCC began investigation into the matter, the former speaker reportedly visited the commission on March 28, 2014 and said to have had an ‘understanding’ with the former chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde. The visit reportedly led to the sudden stop of the investigation by the commission. It was also alleged that a letter of reminder to the EFC by the social crusader, warning of the consequences of aborting investigation mid-way, must have compelled Uwajumogu hatch the assassination attempt, of June 3, 2014, on the life of the activist; which must have led to the alleged killing of Mr Okoli.

The Force Headquarters is, therefore, investigating how and why the EFCC abandoned investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities of the ex-speaker. To this end, Citizen Iwuoha reportedly made a hand-written statement on December 6, 2015 to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), indicting Uwajumogu and his aides. Consequently, senior Force CID officers have stormed Imo State and are currently being conducted round to physically identify the properties Uwajumogu and his chief of staff allegedly acquired with proceeds from the fraud they committed while in office.

According to the petitioner, a unit in the Office of the Speaker, General Duties Department, was used to siphon millions of naira from the Accounts Department of Imo State House of Assembly. Ahaneku was alleged to have signed out all the funds in that department for Miss Chidinma Uwajumogu, an elder sister of the former speaker, who reportedly used her two non-government organisations (NGOs) to defraud the Imo State House of Assembly. Details of this would equally be unveiled during the current investigation.

It is also reported that the investigating police officers have also visited Uwajumogu’s private residence at Umuguma Housing Estate to effect his arrest. But the ex-speaker was said to be absent during the visit. However, a letter of invitation was dropped with his house helps. The officers also allegedly visited Ahaneku and Anamekwe’s residences, and letters of invitation dropped. The Senior Police officers from Abuja were also reported to have visited Government House, Owerri where they “had discussions with Governor Rochas Okorocha and his chief of staff, Chief Uche Nwosu.

Meanwhile, it is gathered from reliable sources that serious pressure is being mounted from high places to forestall the arrest of Uwajumogu, Anamekwe, Ahaneku, Dan Orji, etc., for onward movement to Abuja. Citizen Iwuoha is also facing intense pressure, from some forces, to back down on his current move. But the activist says that he will never be intimidated or cajoled to abandon what he has started.

His words: “I am in contact with the Presidency and other authorities. The fight against corruption and political killings must be fought to its logical conclusion. President Muhammadu Buhari said that he would investigate political killings in this country. So, I am only assisting Mr President to make the burden of investigation lesser.”

On a related issue, the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has also begun investigation into how Uwajumogu diverted salaries, allowances and other entitlements, including vehicles belonging to Hon Walter Uzonwanne, who represented Oguta State Constituency in the 7th House of Imo State House of Assembly. The Anti-graft agency was reported to have extended four invitation letters to Uwajumogu before he went to honour the invitation last Friday. He was reportedly detained for three days and later granted bail on Monday December14, 2015.

•Source: Imo Initiative. Photo shows Uwajumogu.

Update news