Member representing Aba South State Constituency on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA), in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna Ichita, has petitioned the European Union, United Kingdom and the security agencies in Nigeria over alleged threat to his life.
Ichita stated that some persons have planned to hide under the shadow of insecurity in the South East zone to attack him and blame the crime on unknown gunmen.
In a statement personally signed by him, the APGA lawmaker explained that he has notified the relevant security and intelligence agencies including the office of the National Security Adviser and the AU Committee on Intelligence and Security Services.
He said; “I wish to inform the general public that my life has come under a serious threat. Accordingly, the relevant security and intelligence agencies have been notified.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser and the Headquarters of the AU Committee on Intelligence and Security Services have been furnished with details of this threat. The Heads of Diplomatic Missions of European countries in Nigeria, The European Union, The US Embassy and the UK High Commission have all been alerted.
“The need for a thorough investigation by the appropriate superior authorities is accentuated by the plans of some persons/ quarters to hide under the shadow of insecurity in the South East zone of Nigeria to perpetuate heinous crimes in the hope that culpability for such crimes would be placed on the doorsteps of unknown gunmen.”
Assuring that no amount of intimidation would change his belief in accountability, the lawmaker explained that he would continue to discharge his duties without fear.
He hinted that the threat are coming over his membership of the House ad-hoc committee investigating the allegations of the N22 Billion Paris Club refund to the state and the 27 Billion Naira world bank intervention for flood control and construction of major roads in his Aba south constituency.
“I want to restate that no amount of threat would deplete my belief in accountability in the use of public funds especially as it relates to the over 27 Billion Naira world bank intervention for flood control and construction of major roads in Aba south through NEWMAP, which money has been paid in full by the World Bank to the State Government.
“My duties as a member of the Abia House of Assembly especially as it relates to the Ad hoc committee investigating the allegations / controversies surrounding the 22 Billion Naira Paris Club refund to the State government would continue to be discharged without any fear of intimidation from any quarter.”
However, the Abia State government has called on the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegation of threat to life by the lawmaker.
Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, stated that the Ikpeazu administration has never been associated with political killings or harassment of citizens based on their opinions and political views.
“We call on relevant security agencies in the state to thoroughly investigate the purported petition by the Lawmaker. It is a well known fact that under the watch of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, premium has been placed on freedom of expression for all citizens of the State as well as protection of their lives and property.
“The administration has never been and will never be associated with political killings or harassment of citizens based on their opinions and political views. Mindful of the fact that desperate politicians seeking future political redemption for non performance in office are also capable of crying wolf even where there is none, we wish to insist that the grave allegations be expeditiously investigated in its entirety and those found culpable brought to justice. However, if on the other hand there is no substance to the allegation, we also will insist that appropriate sanctions be applied to deter those who may wish to needlessly overheat the polity by raising false alarms.
“It is desperately malicious and/or a hallmark of ignorance for a state legislator to claim that a World Bank project fund of N27.4b has been “paid in full by the World Bank to the state government and insinuate possibility of misappropriation whereas the practice is for such funds to be held in a project account supervised by the Bank with contractors payments released to them on the basis of agreed milestones and “no objection certificate” from the World Bank itself. It is elementary for a state legislator to know that the state government cannot pay out ONE KOBO from that account, even if it wishes to, without approval and concurrence by the World Bank which must have also certified work done as we do not have direct access to the fund.”
