He was remanded for accusing the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Oguzorkanu Offia-Nwali, of diverting N3 billion empowerment funds.

An Abakaliki Magistrate Court has remanded a former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a member of the party’s Interim Caretaker Committee in Ebonyi State, Mr Chika Nwoba, in prison custody.

He was remanded for accusing the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Oguzorkanu Offia-Nwali, of diverting N3 billion empowerment funds.

Nwoba was arrested by the operatives of the Crack Team of Ebonyi State Police Command on Sunday and arraigned on Tuesday on three counts bordering on defamation and threat to the life of the commissioner.

It was gathered that Offia-Nwali had in a petition alleged that Nwoba had in a series of posts he made on social media defamed him, threatened his life and falsely accused him of fraud and diversion of state government funds meant for empowerment of hawkers in the state.


Following the commissioner’s petition, the three counts against Nwoba read, “That you Nwoba Chika Nwoba ‘m’ and others now at large on the 6th day of February, 2024 at Abakaliki within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Threat to Life, Publishing False Information and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Nwoba Chika Nwoba ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did threaten the life of Hon. Oguzorkanu Offia Nwali ‘m’ by the use of electronic gadgets and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 12(1) (b) of Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Related matters, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

“That you Nwoba Chika Nwoba ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did publish false information on your Facebook page accusing Hon. Oguzorkanu Offia Nwali ‘m’ a serving Commissioner in Ebonyi State Executive Council of Funds Diversion, a publication you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence under section 14 of Ebonyi State Internal Security Enforcement and Related matters, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”

Nwoba pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him, hence, his counsel, C.N. Ufufu made an oral bail application for him.

The magistrate, Lilian Ogodo, in her ruling, ordered the remand of Nwoba and said that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and therefore said that the matter be moved to the High Court.

It was gathered that Nwoba had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that Offia-Nwaki, alongside three others, diverted N3 billion meant for the empowerment of Ebonyi hawkers across major cities in the country.

SaharaReporters obtained a statement where before his arrest, Nwoba said, “I laugh at those still asking if I have evidence to back up my claim of graft by thief Oguzor Offia and his acolytes.



“You thought I may have started calling him out without having done my paperwork? I'm not daft and never have been. I know the implication of even calling him a thief without a proof. This cause is bigger than anyone thinks of it. It'll manifest its result in sequences. They can't escape the comeuppance.



“In a few hours, I shall be publishing the names, communities and profiles of the people thief Oguzo used their names to collect the money for himself. He collected N1.9 million from each of them, leaving them with N100,000 each.



“I'll compile the names and contact addresses of them. You'll tell me if they're qualified for the money in the first place. In Ezza South, I have four EBSU (Ebonyi State University) students he used their names to collect the money.



“I have details of what he did with the 100 slots given to Ebonyians in Anambra. On the 17th of November, 2023, Chief Moses Ofoke lodged him at Soprom Hotel, Federal Housing Estate, Onitsha where they struck the deal of dissecting the 100 names, that's N200 million.



“Thief Oguzor and his team made away with 62 names and left the man with 38. Oguzor that evening disengaged himself from the Soprom Hotel and moved straight to Triple P Hotel in Oba where he lodged and met with Akwaokuko Tiwaraki the next day.



“We'll argue these out at the EFCC in Enugu in the coming days. They'll tell us what secondary school students had to do with the N2 million hawkers' empowerment grant. I'm prepared for this. The threat of hurting me is an empty one. I have encountered worse scenarios in the past and survived.



“I have been the only one funding this journey and running around. Nobody has asked me how I'm shouldering the costs attached to this. Gathering intelligence and getting victims to speak up come at a fee.



“If we should watch N3 billion belonging to our state be shared among four to five men unchallenged, it means that Ebonyi hasn't men. It's unfortunate. Strong opposition gulps money and comfort.



“I'm not finding it easy tackling these men. They're working very hard to forestall my efforts and get me harmed, but I'm ahead of them. They're spending money to quench the inferno this case is raising.”



Mr Godfery Chikwere Odo, a former media aide to an ex-Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, had also in social media posts said, “In two weeks time after an ongoing investigation, I will publish names of some politicians and appointees who nominated their family members, spouses and cronies for two million naira Ebonyi state empowerment fund meant for known and suffering hawkers on the streets of states across the country with verifiable facts.



“Some used strange names and identities to collect the money and settled them with 50 to 100k. The less politically ferocious ones went for 50/50 with the beneficiaries.



“An adult that says that children will not eat will eat alot and suffer constipation.



“Those who read and understand this post and digest it through bumbum are welcome.



“Nwifuru should treat Oguzorkanu Offia-Nwali the way and manner Tinubu treated Betta Edu if Oguzor is corrupt as alleged. As a Governor he gave approval for the empowerment.



“As a Governor, within 7 months his body language has shown that he is allergic to negatives and in love with positives.


“He appointed Oguzor and has the right to fire him if found wanting. Based on approvals before him, he knows who is lying and who is saying the truth.


“Let the fight against corruption start from where the approval and disbursement of the empowerment fund started.



“Until the Governor or one of his verified media handlers speaks out and against Oguzor, then we are all speaking out of hate, bitterness, envy, jealousy, love or emotion.



“When it is the turn of your friend, kindly back your enemy.”

https://saharareporters.com/2024/02/15/ex-pdp-spokesman-ebonyi-chika-nwoba-remanded-prison-accusing-commissioner-offia-nwaki

Atiku and PDP caused us the problems we are passing through right now in Nigeria.

Ebonyi governor need to verify this allegations.

If police decided to look in to labour party, hian everyone in that party will be arrested for lying and defamations

N3Bn from a small state like Ebonyi?

He shoot be shot in the head if found guilty.

Hmm