◾Says probe of his administration, a witch-hunt
A public policy and advocacy group, GOOD GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE has berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the probe it has instituted against the regime of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as the governor of Imo State, describing it as no more than a witch-hunt. The EFCC recently invited some civil servants whose ministries, departments or agencies were involved in the financing of some government projects undertaken by the Ihedioha administration to its headquarters in Abuja for questioning. The commission asked the affected government officials to bring with them payment approvals, vouchers, returns and schedule of payment from 29th May, 2019 to 14th January, 2020.
In a statement by its Director of Publicity, Benjamin Dibia, the group berated the EFCC for allowing itself to be used as an instrument for an obvious witch-hunt. It said the so called investigation being carried out by the EFCC was aimed at dredging up excuses to accuse Ihedioha of financial malfeasance even when he cannot truly be seen or known to have committed any such crime.
The statement reads in part: “We have observed with utmost discomfort the ongoing attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to give the former governor of Imo State, has Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, a bad name. This is being done through the invitation it sent out to some government officials who were part of the seven-month long administration of Ihedioha. Coming more than five years after Ihedioha left office, we cannot but wonder what the true intent is. But a discerning observer does not need to search too far for an answer. The EFCC with its collaborators in Owerri want to blackmail Ihedioha. It is a clear case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
“We are worried that a man who was hounded out of office in very controversial circumstances is being subjected to harassment and intimidation by those who should be apologizing to him. As governor, Ihedioha ran a transparent and accountable administration. Within the seven months he spent in office, he brought accountability and transparency in the management of the state’s resources. He returned order and due process to a state that was once ran by locusts. For all that he did while in office, what Ihedioha deserves is commendation, not condemnation.
“We are disappointed that the EFCC has so willingly made itself available to be used by the buccaneers in Owerri for this dirty assignment. As a public institution whose responsibility is to fight graft, we advise the EFCC to focus on real issues and turn away from actions that are clearly geared towards cheap blackmail. There is nothing that happened under the Ihedioha regime that warrants the energy and resources that the commission wants to throw into this needless probe. Ihedioha should be allowed to have some peace.”
