RE: N2.6bn Fraud: Group Urges FG to Resume Sen. Orji’s Prosecution

By Don Norman

We read and were aware of a drab “officialese” with cornucopia of ludicrous scurrilities aimed at provoking controversy against the distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Theodore Orji by imaginary civil society organisation – The Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN).

This canard validated with a fake name, Taiwo Akinyele was published in Authority newspaper of Sunday 22nd September, 2017, Punch newspaper of Monday 23rd September, 2017 and some various online news portals with headlines:  N2.6bn fraud: group urges FG to resume Sen. Orji’s prosecution; group seeks Orji’s arrest, prosecution over alleged N2.6bn misappropriation.

Our reason for being taciturn since the publications hit the newsstand and social media was to conduct and conclude a comprehensive search with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to ascertain the true status of this so called association in order to enforce our civil right.

The objective was to deflect their bloated ego and made them sulk by demanding for a retraction and apology to be published in three (3) national dailies within a specific time or face the consequences of their rascality.

We thought this approach prudent as we believe that it will put an end to multiplicity of spurious petitions of misappropriation against Sen. Orji to the Economic, Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by disgruntled elements hiding under pseudo associations to bring his gargantuan political image and integrity to their wretched level.

Unfortunately our plan was halted after weeks of painstaking search as investigation confirmed that the association - The Concerned Citizens of Nigeria and its purported President, Mr. Taiwo Akinyele were pseudonyms with no contact address or phone numbers, except a Facebook page and a dormant website impulsively created to give respiration to the unregistered fake group. 

We find It pathetic how those who saw themselves as hegemons while in power few years ago and notorious svengalis (with coercive use of state security apparatus) will resort to this display of contemptible cowardice – like scared dogs with tails in between legs – in their self-defeating fight against Sen. Orji who rather than reviled is being serenaded by Nigerians.

While we challenge these clowns masquerading as civil organisation group to make themselves known to see if we will hesitate a moment to take legal action against them, we however urge the general public to disregard the mendacity published.

Don Norman Obinna is the Media Adviser to Senator T.A Orji