Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has applauded the
President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government over the conviction of Abia
State former governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
The group said the fate that befell the former governor and
serving senator showed that Buhari’s anti-corruption fight remained impartial.
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It added that it had shortlisted 69 more corrupt politicians
in South East for trail and called on Buhari and the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) to also ensure their prosecution and imprisonment.
A Federal High Court in Lagos had on Thursday found Kalu
guilty of N7.65 billion fraud when he was the governor of Abia State and ruled
he should serve 12 years in prison for committing the offence.
Ohanaeze youths reacted to the development in a statement
signed by its president-general and secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike respectively.
The statement read:
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide viewed the recent
pronouncement of Federal High Court Lagos, sentencing Senator Orji Kalu for the
N7.65bn looted during his tenure as Abia State Governor, with others as clear
evidence that President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is impartial and sincere in
his anti-corruption crusade and effort towards strengthening institutions
against powerful politicians irrespective of party affiliation.
“Orji Kalu conviction
contradicts the beliefs that APC is Safe Haven for looters but it shows that looters
seeking refuge in APC and those seen as sacred cows and untouchables may not
escape the full weight of the law, having betrayed people’s trust through
siphoning huge funds meant for development and dividends of democracy.
“Senator Orji Kalu will definitely appeal the court judgment
that sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment over corruption charges and theft
of 7.65bn of Abia State government money, but this judgment is an eye-opener
for Nigerians that joining APC, will not absolve any corrupt politician from
being jailed.”
“We plead with President Buhari to jail more former
governors whose corruption cases have been swept under the carpet, no
politician should be spared on the fight against corruption, APC should
sanitised their party by jailing those who had pending cases of corruption in
courts.”
The group added that it had shortlisted those politicians
behind many alleged scams in South East in its three pages petition addressed
to President Buhari and copied to EFCC for the law to take its full course.
“Those who had squandered the people’s money should spend
greater part of their lives in Jail to serve as a deterrent for those in
governance against looting spree that we had witnessed since 1999.
“Wth full autonomy passed by National Assembly for 774 local
governments, there will be less embezzlement in state government houses in
Nigeria. Those who committed monumental frauds in the name of governance while
in government should meet Senator Orji Kalu’s fate,
“There’s over 69 politicians who had been shortlisted from
South East in our three pages petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari,
including three former governors, one current South East governor, six serving
senators and 12 Reps members and others.
“We are cleansing South East, I hope other Ethnic nationalities Youths will sanitise their Zones.”
Source: Ripples