The National President of the Ebonyi South Youths Assembly, Comrade Odii Njoku, has challenged Sir Chika Nwoba to substantiate his allegations of financial impropriety against the administration of Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, with verifiable evidence or pursue the claims through the appropriate legal and investigative channels.
Njoku on Wednesday in a strongly worded counter-statement issued in response to allegations circulated by Nwoba on social media, said serious accusations bordering on corruption, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds should not be established through social media posts but through evidence presented before competent authorities.
He specifically challenged Nwoba to provide documentary evidence backing his claims involving $1.886 million, N2 billion and N50 billion allegedly linked to officials of the Ebonyi State Government.
“Social media is not a court of law, Facebook is not the EFCC, and WhatsApp is not a substitute for evidence,” Njoku said.
He urged Nwoba, if he genuinely possessed evidence of criminal conduct, to submit such materials to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or any other competent investigative authority rather than presenting unsubstantiated allegations as established facts.
On the alleged interception of $1.886 million at Enugu Airport involving two Bureau de Change operators purportedly connected with Governor Nwifuru’s trip to China, Njoku demanded official documentation to establish the claim.
“Where is the evidence? Where is the official EFCC statement confirming the alleged interception? Where is the case number? Where is the charge sheet? Where is the court process? Where is the official record identifying the alleged owners of the money?” he queried.
Njoku also dismissed as requiring proof Nwoba’s allegation that a woman was allegedly arranged in Abuja to claim ownership of the money in an attempt to frustrate an investigation.
He challenged Nwoba to identify the woman and produce any statement, investigative record, arrest report, charge sheet or court proceeding supporting the allegation.
“Who is the woman? What is her name? What statement did she make? What EFCC document identifies her? Was she arrested? Was she charged? Is there a court proceeding?” Njoku asked.
The youth leader further demanded evidence for Nwoba’s allegation that the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Abuja Liaison Office, Ekene Nwokoro, allegedly laundered billions of naira and was detained by the EFCC.
Njoku stressed that an invitation, arrest or detention by a law-enforcement agency, even where established, could not in law be equated with guilt or conviction.
“An arrest or invitation for questioning is not a conviction,” he said, urging Nwoba to make available the relevant official records or court processes if his allegation was based on a genuine investigation.
Similarly, Njoku challenged the allegation that N2 billion belonging to the state was allegedly stolen by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Grace Umezurike, and traced to four bank accounts.
He demanded the production of alleged EFCC seizure documents, court orders, charge sheets, financial-tracing reports or other competent documentary evidence capable of establishing the allegation.
On the claim involving N50 billion allegedly diverted under the guise of acquiring aircraft for EbonyiAir, Njoku said the magnitude of the allegation demanded commensurate documentary substantiation.
“N50 billion is not N50,000. Such a transaction, if it occurred, should leave an enormous documentary and financial trail,” he said, challenging Nwoba to produce procurement documents, payment records, contracts, bank transactions, audit findings or other verifiable records supporting the allegation.
Njoku also rejected Nwoba’s portrayal of Ebonyi State as a centre of corruption and money laundering, arguing that legitimate criticism of government policies should be distinguished from allegations of criminal conduct that require evidentiary proof.
He said while citizens had the constitutional right to scrutinise government and demand accountability, such scrutiny should be exercised responsibly and within the framework of the law.
“We are not opposed to investigation. We are not opposed to accountability. We are not opposed to prosecution where wrongdoing is established. We are opposed to trial by social media,” he stated.
The National President said the EFCC and other statutory institutions were sufficiently empowered by law to investigate allegations of financial crimes and should be allowed to discharge their mandates without being subjected to social-media pressure.
“If Sir Chika Nwoba possesses credible evidence of financial crimes, let him submit it to the EFCC and allow the agency to investigate. That is the lawful thing to do,” he said.
Njoku further urged Nwoba to approach the courts if he believed criminal offences had been committed, stressing that allegations remained allegations until established through due process.
“Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is not above the law, just as Sir Chika Nwoba is not above the law. Anyone with credible evidence against the Governor or any member of his administration should present it to the appropriate authorities,” he said.
He cautioned against what he described as the indiscriminate publication of grave allegations capable of damaging the reputation of public officials and the state without corresponding evidence.
Njoku maintained that Ebonyi State remained the collective patrimony of its citizens and urged political actors and other stakeholders to distinguish legitimate opposition and constructive criticism from allegations that could not withstand evidentiary scrutiny.
He therefore challenged Nwoba to move beyond social-media publications and subject his allegations to institutional and judicial scrutiny.
“Bring the evidence. Go to court. Let the law speak,” Njoku said.
