A group, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Justice and Equity (CCSO-JE) is set to protest against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over its failure to prosecute Honourable Solomon Ahwinahwi who formerly represented Ughelli South/ Udu Federal Constituency for massive fraud, money laundering and other Corrupt Practices among others.
The group in a letter to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command by its Legal Adviser, Denning Ebi Akori, Esq. and sighted by journalists said after series of petition against the former Honourable Member, the EFCC is yet to commence criminal proceedings against him.
“We have become aware of a petition dated Friday 22nd July, 2022 (copy attached) written by a sister Civil Society Organization named; Global Integrity Crusade Network (hereinafter called GICN) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), amongst other agencies.
“Petition receipts with numbers EFCC/PET/HQR/0232/2022 and ICPC/P/SW/115/2022/19 are hereby attached for ease of reference. Our investigation into the status of the petition reveals that same has been swept under the carpet by the investigating authorities in their characteristic manner. At CCSO-JE, we have zero tolerance for high-handedness and hold dearly that persons who take up public offices must be ready to discharge their duties.
“We submit that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) have abdicated their statutory duties by refusing to act on the petition written by GICN.
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“To this extent, we have resolved to draw the attention of government and the international community to this monumental anomaly by leading Nigerians in their thousands to occupy the head offices of the EFCC and ICPC in Abuja on Wednesday, 21st December 2022.
“We take solace in Section 24 (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which provides that it shall be the duty of every citizen to make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress and wellbeing of the community where he resides.
“Therefore, we are convinced that you will cooperate with us as usual in view of the fact that Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 7 and 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap 10 LFN 1990 guarantee our Rights to Peaceful Assembly. Due to the exigencies of such protest, we have deemed it expedient to have you informed and we respectfully request the presence of your personnel to give us security cover and help maintain orderliness at the protest venues” he said.
