Corruption: Oduduwa Group Wants Former Quarantine Boss Dr Isegbe, Others Prosecuted
A Yoruba Socio-cultural group under the aegis of Oduduwa Development Initiative(ODI) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the nation’s anti-corruption agencies to as a matter of urgency prosecute the immediate past Comptroller General/CEO of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) Dr Vincent Isegbe for acts of corruption and abuse of office
National President of the
Oduduwa Development Initiative(ODI), Ambassador Akinyele olasumbo in a world press conference held at Agura Hotel Tuesday in Abuja, also said that the immediate past Executive Vice Chairman of the National Communications Commission(NCC) Professor Umar Garba Danbatta should come under searchlight.
Ambassador Olasumbo particularly drew the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission(ICPC) to Dr Vincent Isegbe, former Director General of Nigeria Agricultural quarantine service (NAQS) whose elongated years in service was marred with gross misconduct, high profile corruption and illegal International trade against federal government policy prohibiting such.
He noted that the group had in past written several petitions to the Presidency and made numerous calls to the EFCC and ICPC to investigate this criminal activities of Dr Isegbe but all to know avail.
Speaking to President Tinubu via the media, the group said “It’s with great admiration that we write you as partners in Nation building. Your temerity in advancing the course of a greater nigeria with socio economic stability are well appreciated and acknowledged. We want to assure you of our continued support and partnership always in our joint bid to take back our country from Interlopers and fraudulent individuals who we have given the opportunity to serve us but have ridiculously stolen our collective pool of nationhood”.
He said ODI is a nationalistic socio cultural group with the vision to defend the territorial unity of the country and to ensure equity, transparency and accountability in public service.
“Today again for the umpteenth time we wish to call on the attention of the EFCC and ICPC to as a matter of national importance expedite action on the arrest and prosecution and investigation of heads of agencies that have been fingered in corruption cases. We urge the EFCC and ICPC to without fear or favor do the needful in this regard”.
He noted that the pain and anguish which these perpetrators of corruption have brought to the masses is the direct consequences of the poverty that bedeviled our nation today, stressing that Hunger, unemployment, inflation, depression, food insecurity are offshoot of the multidimensional corruption that has pervaded our land over the years, adding that the law should not spare anyone found wanting.
“As patriotic citizens, it’s our right to expose criminal acts most expecialy when it puts our country on the edge and place poverty and underdevelopment on the people”.
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give an executive order to the EFCC and ICPC to investigate, arrest and prosecute these individuals who have brought untold hardship on the masses.
“In Nigeria today the goverment is battling with the issue of funds to stabilize the economy and meet the desire and challenges of the masses, but these funds are in the pockets of individuals who we once trusted with our future. It’s imperative that we get it back to put the country on the part of justice”, he. said.
“Several cases of such immense magnitude are before the EFCC and ICPC, we sympathize with them because the challenges are also tedious but we believe in their ability to deliver and ensure justice is done. We want to urge them to take necessary actions on these notable individuals who are feeling above the law after looting public funds and betraying public trust. As the adage says ” That the she goat does not suffer paturition when the elder is at home” suffix it to mean that Nigeria should not suffer poverty whoen we have competent people in charge of our financial crimes agency. Their capabilities are not in doubt”.
The group appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the bold step in reshaping the NAQS to meet with global standard and best practices, and urged him to give the new leadership all needed support for them to excel and prove the genuity of their vision and mandate.
