Victor Ochei and others in California
Delta State youths have accused Mr. Victor Ochei, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, of fraudulent misappropriation of public funds in last month’s alleged N1.2 billion leadership training jamboree in the USA.
The programme was held at the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, San Francisco. About 40 persons, including 29 members of the House; Emma Okoro, the former Speaker of the House now the Chief Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Legislative Matters; as well as directors and aides to key officers of the House, were in the travel party.
In a petition, the Delta State Youth Forum for Good Governance (DSYFGG) asked the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the matter, claiming their moral duty as citizens to press for accountability and responsibility of public office holders according to the mandate given by the people.
“The main purpose of the training was for earning wealth illegally thereby committing an economic crime as defined in section 40 of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and other acts of financial ignorance and wanton acts of impunity being perpetrated by Victor Ochei led House of Assembly in our dear state,” the youths said.
They added: “By virtue of section 15 sub 5 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as (Amended) the state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 24 (d) of the said constitution provides that it shall be the duty of every citizen to make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress and well-being of the community where he resides.”
Urging the EFCC to swing into action before the relevant documents needed for the investigation are destroyed, the petitioners said:
“We act as a catalyst to the development of our society in our quest to safeguard the paramount interest of the people by ensuring that public officials are held accountable to the people. We have raised the bar in Delta state as it concerns public accountability by the political elite who are by the way the highest paid legislators in the world, to the people. An honest government is a progressive government. A progressive government is an impunity free government. An impunity free government is a government that listens to the people.”
The petition was signed by the President General of DSYFGG, Comrade Prince Kpokpogri, Omo-elo Akokaike Esq, legal Adviser, and Joseph Opone Terry, director, strategy and media. It was copied to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Inspector General of Police, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, and several others.
In another development, DSYFGG said it has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Assembly, requesting the clerk, as a matter of urgency and importance, to provide it with full details of the sum of money that was approved for the ongoing renovation and construction of new buildings in the complex.
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