Money laundering (Anambra state govt.)

A PRESS STATEMENT OF THE ANAMBRA CLO



THE ALLEGED N250 MILLION MONEY LAUNDERING SCAM AND POLICE INVESTIGATION. THE NEED FOR CAUTION TO ENSURE AN UNHINDERED INVESTIGATION





The Civil Liberties Organization Anambra state branch have followed with studied interest and silence the reported incident of large sums of money said to have been intercepted in the convoy of vehicles belonging to Anambra state government in Lagos.



Since the news broke out, various versions of the story including the allegation of possession of arms / ammunitions cache, and bags of dollars for onward transfer outside the shores of the country. Some group also has called for the resignation of the Governor over the allegations.



Having reviewed the entire scenario, we therefore make the following submissions



The much hulla baloo generated over this issue is uncalled for and may amount to what Shakespeare called “much ado about nothing” at the end of the day.



The government of Nigeria has relevant bodies and agencies like the police, EFCC and ICPC saddled with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting crimes, both financially related and otherwise.



We align ourselves with the call for the Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) to investigate the allegation of money laundering and make the outcome of their investigation open for necessary action if need be.



The police also should conduct an unbiased investigation over the incident just as the state governor has written to the IGP over the matter.



The police investigation should be anchored on professionalism and integrity especially now that the opposition parties’ resident in the state and other high places in Nigeria are alleged to have bribed the police to indict the governor at all cost.



We frown at the proliferation and activities of many mushroom civil society groups in the state as the 2010 election draws near. Various hirelings are now being recruited and ferried across the nation to do all kinds of odd jobs and make unguarded utterances to serve the interest of their paymasters.



Democracy allows for freedom of expression but we advise these characters to cross check the facts, refrain from careless criticism and unnecessary vilification to avoid heating up the Anambra polity already infiltrated by some wicked politicians through politically motivated crimes.



We also call on Mr Ejike Onwusogbulu of Glitz Introvert Ltd at the center of this controversy to speak out and tell the world his own side of the story over what actually transpired in Lagos.



This will help quell the rumours being bandied about over the actual amount, currency denomination or the nature of the contract.



In all, we advise every group, persons or characters with vested interest over this matter or Anambra politics to thread with caution and wait till the relevant authorities conclude their investigations.





Signed




Comrade Aloysius Attah Comrade Justus Ijeoma

Chairman Anambra State Branch Sec. Anambra State Branch



Comrade Stanley Okoro
Publicity Secretary