Re: Nomination Of Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu As A Nigerian Minister
Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,
President-elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Government Reserved Area (GRA)
Off Daura-Kwangolam road
Opposite Daura Shagari Low Cost Housing Estate
Daura, Katsina State
Nigeria
7TH May 2015
RE: NORMINATION OF MR BENJAMIN UWAJUMOGU AS A NIGERIAN MINISTER
His Excellency, once again we say congratulation to you for your victory at the 2015 Nigerian general election. The Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI) is happy to note that you have promised Nigerians that you will not betray or disappoint them. You made this comments while receiving a delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters from Taraba State in Abuja.
YARPTI is a human rights organization in Nigeria with unmasking the corrupt as one of our 4 point agenda. We are happy that you promised Nigerians that you will fight against corruption, unemployment and insecurity. We assure you that we will render you support in unmasking the corrupt in Nigeria. It is indeed time to stop the corrupt from hiding their identity and illegal activities. Corrupt politicians and businesspeople continue to escape justice and enjoy luxury lifestyles funded by stolen public money, smuggling illicit funds through shadowy secret companies.
IMO STATE OF NIGERIA
We call on you not to accept the nomination of Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu who is the outgoing Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , Ambassador or any other federal position with the following reasons:
(1)The said Uwajumogu has not cleared his name of the heavy corruption allegations leveled against him by his former media aide Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha. Uwajumogu has several explanations to offer the people of Imo State over the petition forwarded to the EFCC by his aide dated 18th Feb 2014 . The said petition to EFCC was also made public in several newspapers and magazines and also on the internet. The petition disclosed how fraudulent contracts for road projects worth billions of naira were awarded by him as Speaker of Imo House of Assembly without due process and how he used the proceeds of the crime to acquire several properties in Nigeria and abroad whereas the same state is in dire need of infrastructures and is facing serious youths unemployment issues including unpaid worker’s salaries.
(2)He should tell Nigerians how he acquired the following properties as revealed by his aide - N500million naira Asphalt plant along Onitsha road Owerri,15 mansions along Chief Ben Uwajumogu Street, Federal Housing Estate Umuguma Owerri – West LGA,JASMINE Hotels and Suites behind Imo Concorde Hotel valued at over N70 million, Over 200 plots of land located in Owerri West LGA, N400million naira Mansion at Ihitte /Uboma, 2 other mansions at Ihitte/Uboma,Mansions in Aba and Umuahia , N760 million naira Crush Rock Industry in Ebonyi State, N500 million naira private hotel in Abuja, N750 million naira private hotel in Lagos. The pictures of all the properties he acquired with stolen public funds were also sent to the EFCC and also made public on the internet .
(3)The same aide accused him of rituals and occult practices and explained how he (Uwajumogu) summoned all his senior aides in the presence of a native doctor where he (Uwajumogu) was stack naked and asked them to drink a concoction and kiss his manhood.
(4) The same aide accused Uwajumogu of attempting to kill him for exposing his fraudulent activities. This matter was reported to the former Imo State commissioner of police Mr Abdulmajid Ali who bluntly refused to investigate it . Note that 3 of Uwajumogu’s aides have so far been assassinated , namely Pastor Emmanuel Adoba, Hon Kingsley Nkemka and Mr Chidi .
(5)He (Uwajumogu) committed heavy human rights violation in Imo State by ordering for the arrest of Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha together with his wife and dumped them in prison without trial for 11 months were they were subjected to torture which is against article 5 ,9 and 10 of the United Nations Universal declaration of Human Rights .
YARPT is saying it strongly that such a man does not deserve the position of Minister, Ambassador or any other public office . His nomination in a country where you have vowed to fight against corruption is a "black kite" that should not fly..
You have an obligation to our countrymen and women who suffer because of a group of people who take the money from the country to benefit themselves. Because of people like Uwajumogu we have less education, less access to water, and less access to health and housing. His activities as Speaker of Imo House of Assembly should be looked into. This man should be investigated.
Kenneth Uwadi
President, Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI)
www.yarpti.org
Cc APC National Chairman
CC Transparency International