Rivers LG chairmen will be dragged to EFCC, ICPC after tenure – group

A group, Advocate of Social Justice and Anti-Corruption Crusaders, has said it will petition the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to probe the outgoing Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State over wanton corruption allegations.

The group in a statement signed by Prince Williams Orji, National Coordinator, vowed to bring the Chairman of Emohua Local Government, Chidi Lloyd, and other outgoing council bosses under the anti-graft agencies’ scrutiny at the end of their tenure.

Orji alleged that the level of corruption in the local government councils was unprecedented, emphasising that the council chairmen have been accused of squandering internally generated revenues, among other corruption allegations in the last few months.

He assured that the group would petition the EFCC and the ICPC for in-depth investigations into the corruption allegations against the outgoing council bosses to get justice for Rivers people.

“As a group dedicated to advocating for justice and fighting corruption, the Advocate of Social Justice and Anti-Corruption Crusaders has resolved to petition the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to probe the corruption allegations against the outgoing Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State after their tenure,” the statement said.

“Our decision follows a series of petitions received from thousands of Rivers State residents alleging embezzlement, gross misconduct, theft, racketeering, nepotism, and threat to public peace among others against their various local government chairmen.

“Given the weighty nature of the allegations, we conducted an internal investigation and we found out that indeed resources have been embezzled, government properties looted and corrupt practices have taken place in the offices of the outgoing council chairmen.

“In order to get justice for Rivers people, we have packaged our findings into petitions to be forwarded to the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for in-depth investigations into the wanton corruption allegations against the outgoing Local Government Chairmen after their tenure, with the hope that they would be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice to serve as deterrents to others.”