Group calls for visa ban against Ebonyi Governor; David Umahi

Civil Rights group, Concerned Nigerians has on Monday called for a visa ban against Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi and members of his family for money laundering and acts contrary to the code of conduct prohibiting public officers from conducting private businesses.

The group convener, Deji Adeyanju in the letter addressed to the Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District invited the embassy and other copied commissions to investigate the allegations against the governor and if culpable, he should be punished.

He said the visa ban is necessary because the governor enjoys immunity as enshrined in the constitution.

And the visa ban would serve as a deterrent to other Nigerian politicians especially as all other constitutional means of checkmating corruption in the country has been ineffective in checkmating the menace.

A report from online news platform, Peoples Gazette had on Friday alleged that Umahi, the governor of the poorest state in southern Nigeria had siphoned the state fund using his company, Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd.

Bank statements obtained by the Peoples Gazette showed that Brass Engineering received more than N3.6 billion between 2011 when he as a deputy governor to 2019.

The allegations showed that the governor defaulted the law that prohibited public officers from conducting private businesses except subsistence agriculture while in office.

After publishing the report, the reporters at Peoples Gazette were at the receiving end of an intimidating call from the governor’s aide that pressured them to retract, delete the story or risk elimination.

The statement read:

1st February, 2021

The Ambassador
Embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria
Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District
Abuja, Nigeria

ATTENTION:

i. British High Commissioner
British High Commission in Nigeria
ii. Head of Mission, European Union in Nigeria
iii. The Ambassador
Canadian Embassy in Nigeria

Your Excellencies,

REQUEST FOR A VISA BAN ON THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE, ENGR. DAVID UMAHI AND MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY

Our attention has been drawn to a news report by an online Nigeria news platform, the Peoples Gazzette, accusing the executive governor of Ebonyi State, Engineer David Umahi, of money laundering and acts contrary to the extant code of conduct prohibiting public officers from conducting private businesses. After the publication, it is also alleged by the Peoples Gazette that aides of the governor threatened the platform’s reporters. Both reports are herein attached for your investigation and due diligence.

In recognition of the constitutionally guaranteed immunity conferred on serving governors in Nigeria, we had restrained ourselves from acting on previous reports of looting of public funds by several governors but the alleged threat following the publication leaves us with no other option but to seek your intervention. You will agree with us that money laundering is a crime against humanity and the bane of all problems plaguing our country.

Accordingly, we urge you to investigate the veracity of this publication by giving Governor Dave Umahi fair hearing and if found culpable, place a VISA ban on him and members of his family to serve as deterrence to other Nigerian politicians. This has become necessary because all other constitutional means of checkmating a thieving public official have been eroded or deliberately weakened by those who should ordinarily be checkmating them.

Most obliged.

Deji Adeyanju
Convener