Uduaghan, Editors And Corruption

By Fred Uno Ijeh
The publicity extended to All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) in Port Harcourt regarding Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s participation may have just smoked him out of his hole. For anti-corruption crusaders, this is it. This opportunity to arrest ex-governor Emmanuel Uduaghan over many allegations of looting the Delta State treasury should not escape the knowledge of the ICPC and EFCC. Indeed, the crime-fighting agencies in Nigeria should not fail on this if really they are desirous of addressing corruption without bias.
It is huge irony that editors of newspapers invited someone they have written to tatters on his ill-gotten wealth and corruption antecedent to their major annual event to deliver a keynote address. If not for blatant desire for money and greed, why should any credible organisation invite someone like Uduaghan with gross accusations of stealing billions of naira from Delta State to such an important event like the ANEC in Port Harcourt? This is why many people believe that journalists are highly insincere in the corruption fight and are allegedly involved in abetting corruption for self-interest.
On Uduaghan’s proposed public lecture, I think it is a good opportunity for Concerned Deltans and civil society groups in Port Harcourt to legitimately and orderly lead a major protest against Uduaghan’s public participation at the event. The EFCC and ICPC cannot deny that they have many petitions against Uduaghan because some of them are even on the internet. Even, if they may claim there is none in their possession, the fact is that these agencies really do not need any petition on Dr. Emma Uduaghan because it is a settled matter in law that financial crime fighting organisations can initiate investigations and prosecute without any petition. The information in the media is enough for Uduaghan to be charged without any petition especially given that there is a landmark judicial pronouncement by the justices of the Court of Appeal where the presiding Judge, Hon Justice Obande F. Ogbuinya, of the Court of Appeal in his judgment citing sections 6[a] and 27[3] of ICPC Act ruled that the ICPC has such powers,
That the present administration of Delta State under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is struggling to pay salaries is very sad. How then can such a government deliver good governance if the billions of naira allegedly stashed away by his predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan are not returned? No one should expect any magic from Okowa. Even though Okowa has started well, his promises of taking Delta to a new level may end up as oral gymnastics if Uduaghan’s alleged impunity is not addressed.
It is easy to imagine why the Delta State government cannot initiate a probe on Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan but if the truth be told, if Delta State must grow under the Okowa administration, the good men and women in our society must speak against Uduaghan’s alleged financial impropriety and alleged stealing whilst in office. It is ridiculous that an organisation of editors which ought to be the whistle blower and watchdog for the society is glorifying corruption merely because alleged thieves like Dr. Emma Uduaghan can provide financial support to the organisation.
What a rotten society! For emphasis, aside Uduaghan thrusting Delta State into great financial debt of N637 billion that cannot be repaid in ten years, he is also alleged to have converted Delta State assets to private ownership as widely reported in the media.
The time for ICPC and EFCC to act is now. Deltans are suffering as a result of Dr. Uduaghan’s alleged gross misdeeds on their common wealth. This organisation of editors should revisit their decision or stay in shame, otherwise, they may just end up being classified as the worst enemy to the Buhari’s corruption fight and Delta citizens.
Ijeh, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Lagos.