Ebonyi LP raises alarm over attempted blackmail

Ebonyi State Labour Party, (LP) has raised the alarm over an attempt to blackmail, and tarnish the image and reputation of its governorship candidate,  Chief Edward Nkwegu through the state House of Assembly.

The party was reacting to a petition brought before the state House of Assembly by one Clement Odaah which accused Nkwegu of shady deals in the award and execution of contracts in the state.

The State House of Assembly had after deliberating on the petition which was also against governor Martin Elechi and other top government functionaries, set up a probe committee headed by the member representing Onicha East Constituency, Hon. Odefa Obasi Odefa to look into the allegations.

The Director of Media and Publicity, Heritage Campaign Council of the Labour Party, Dr. Chike Onwe while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki said it would have chosen to ignore the petition as cheap political noise, but because of the innocent minds that seek the truth.

According to Onwe, it is legally problematic and morally inappropriate for the state House of Assembly relying on a malicious petition from a faceless hireling in and outside the state to resolve to institute a committee to investigate the allegations of inflated contracts, and what they termed non-completion of some designated projects in the state by the firm in which the principal had interest, namely Edon Nigeria Limited.

‘’We want to state unequivocally that Sir Edward Nkwegu, as the Chairman of EDON Group of Companies has built a reputation for himself as a foremost industrialist and employer of labour in Ebonyi State and beyond. From available records, he conducts his businesses in the most transparent manner, subjecting his books at all times to the revenue and due process authorities for scrutiny. At no time in the business and contract-handling history of this self-made entrepreneur has he been indicted for any wrong doing,” he said.

The party described the petition as malicious blackmail and challenged the authors to prove the sanctity of their allegations or risk public opprobrium.

He however urged the people to discountenance the allegation of financial fraud against the Governor’s son Nnanna Elechi, and the Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Ebonyi Central zone.

The Director of Heritage Campaign Council, Sunday Agwara while reacting to the petition against Elechi  by one Clement Odaah to the state House of Assembly said Prince Nnanna Elechi, Managing Director of M & J construction company Ltd is well known for his transparency in all his business dealings within and outside the country, and has never in any way been involved in any shady deal.

He said what the House of Assembly was doing is to play down on the integrity of the Governor’s son and tarnish his image before the electorate.