A Bayelsa based pressure group has called on the federal government to investigate some influential Nigerians who used their relationship with former President Goodluck Jonathan to embezzle public funds. The group gave the charge in Yonegoa, the Bayelsa state capital, on Friday, March 18.
The BFL which expressed readiness to stage a peaceful protest in Abuja, next week to demand for the immediate arrest of a close associate of the former president and traditional ruler of Opume in Bayelsa state, King Amaalate Turner, by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC).
It stated that it has prepared its petition to be submitted during the protest, detailing how King Amalate Turner abused his relationship as a close friend of former President Jonathan for personal and family enrichment, many of which were through several contracts awarded to his company both in Bayelsa and other parts of the country at scandalously, outrageous amount, ,any of whom were never implemented or abandoned by companies belonging to Turner and his children.
Jude Olomu, chairman of the group, stated that for the avoidance of doubt, King Turner, was in the civil service where he retired as a permanent secretary and one them wonders the source of his enormous wealth today, thereby prompting the group’s investigation, which revealed how several amount of public funds were channeled by the Jonathan administration through King Turner and his family.
The group claimed to be in possession of details of properties, completed and ongoing, belonging to King Turner, his children and numerous wives in Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Lagos and overseas, which it has attached to its petition, to be submitted during the protest to the EFCC. It call on the federal government to secure an order for the confiscation of the properties acquired by King Turner and his partners in crime with these looted funds.
The group warned against any move to shield these cronies of former president from facing the full wrath of the law, adding that its members will continue its protest, if EFCC continues to delay the arrest of these men, particularly Turner, who is believed to be one of the biggest beneficiary of the loots of the former administration.
The group promised to continually support every move by the president Buhari’s administration to recover all funds stolen by the Jonathan’s administration, directly and through its cronies. Meanwhile, former president Goodluck Jonathan has reportedly insisted that he will not bail out any minister or public officer involved in the N3.1b fraud.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
