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Friday 4 April 2014

Imo Speaker Fraud Scandal; Samuelson, Others Boycott Invitation

 


SAMUELSON....Accused Imo Speaker of Fraud
The raging controversy trailing allegations of fraud against the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly has taken a new turn. 

An Ad Hoc committee constituted by the Speaker and headed by Hon. Ikenna Emeh had invited Mr. Iwuoha, Mr.Kenneth Uwadi, the Publishers of Trumpeta Newspapers and Newbearer magazine to appear before it.


The Committee had gone on state owned Orient FM to announce their invitation to appear before the committee today(Friday, March 4, 2014)



Samuelson in his reply to the House posted on facebook, said he may not turn up before the committee because he has not been served any notice of invitation. 

He again maintained his stance that the Speaker and his aides are involved in fraudulent activities and the committee was constituted by the Speaker and made up of Speaker's men to cover his shady deals.

Another invitee to the committee, Kenneth Uwadi, said he will not appear before the committee because there is a plot to arrest him if he shows up at the Assembly complex
Uwadi wrote in part” The Imo State House of Assembly  has once  again showed that  it is diametrically opposed to the democratic and constitutional rights of free speech. I have been informed of a radio announcement inviting me to appear before the Hon. Ikenna Emeh led House of Assembly Probe Panel on allegations against the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly , Rt.Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu. The radio announcement was made today 3/4/14 while I was asked to appear on 4/4/14. No letter of invitation was dispatched to me.
“It is a blatant disregard for the rule of law for the Imo House of Assembly  to  invite me via radio broadcast. Upon that , I am asked to attend a panel within less than 24 hours of the radio announcement – an obvious attempt to deny me my  constitutional right to seek legal advice and representation.
“A source at the Imo State House of Assembly has informed me  of a plot to arrest me  at  the venue of  the  probe panel set up by the Speaker and whisk me to unknown destination
The publishers of Trumpeta Newspapers are also not likey to show up.
In a letter to the House committee and signed by its lawyer, Barr. Emperor Iwuala said:
“Your letter arrived late to our client being the 3rd of April, 2014 which is unreasonably late as we are slated to appear before a court tomorrow in defence of another client in a criminal matter..”
Moreover, your letter did not state the capacity Our client is to honour the invitation either as an accused or as a witness” the letter stated.
Observers of the situation in the State are opposed to the invitation of the Newspaper Publishers by the House committee, on the basis that the Newspaper publishers have no case to answer since it only ventilated the opinion expressed by a concern citizen of the State who accused the Speaker of mind blowing corrupt practices.

 “ The burden of proof lies on the petitioners who raised alarm over allegations of fraud against the Speaker and not on the Newspaper publishers”  said Chief Raymond Anyaoha

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