BIG STORY

I Have Been Denied Salary For Refusing To Defect To APC – Lawmaker

Published

3 years ago

February 24, 2022

A lawmaker in Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s south-east, claims she has been denied her pay and other benefits because she refused to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Ngozi Eziulo, who represents the Afikpo North East State Constituency in the Ebonyi House of Assembly, told reporters in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

She is one of the two lawmakers whom the Speaker of the House, Francis Nwifuru, claimed they had written a letter to the house indicating that they had resigned from the PDP.

She denied writing the resignation letter that was read at plenary by the speaker, adding that she has no reason to leave the party “which has been so good” to her.

Both Mrs. Eziulo and the other lawmakers, Oliver Osi (Ivo Constituency) were absent at the plenary when the letters were read.

She challenged the House leadership to produce a copy of such a letter bearing her signature to prove that she wrote it.

“I never wrote the letter and can never write such a letter.

“I am still wondering how they came about such a letter. That letter is a forgery. If they said I have resigned, let them bring such a letter and let me see it with my signature.

“I am considering legal action because that letter is forged and you know forgery is a criminal offense,” she said.

Mrs. Eziulo said she has not been paid her salary and entitlements since Governor David Umahi defected from the PDP to the APC because of her refusal to join the APC.

“Ever since the governor defected, I have not been paid my entitlement including salary.

“When I asked, they said their reason is that I have not joined them in APC, that once I join, they will start paying.

“I told them if that is the condition I will never join, and they are still holding on to it,” she said.

She said the House has refused to pay her, despite a series of letters and reminders by her lawyers.

She said instead her life was being threatened by “those who are hell-bent” on forcing her to join the APC.

“In fact, they have threatened to take (away) my official car. They have also been threatening my life, by saying they will send their thugs after me all because I refused to join them,” she said.

Mrs. Eziulo said despite not being paid her entitlements, she has been attending sittings and other functions of the House.

She vowed to remain with the PDP.

“I don’t see any reason why I should leave my party PDP. This is a party that brought me to the House. I am somebody that will ever remain grateful to people that do me good. PDP did me well so I can’t leave the party,” she said.

The speaker, Mr. Nwifuru did not respond to calls and a text message seeking comment from him.

His media aide, Leo Oketa, did not also respond to calls.

Post Views: 815

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BIG STORY

Two US-Based Nigerians Bag 30-Year Jail For $3.5m Romance Scam

Published

1 hour ago

November 26, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced by a United States federal jury to a combined 30 years in prison for defrauding US citizens of $3.5 million.

The sentencing was announced in a press release made available on the US Department of Justice website on Monday.

According to the statement, Ibekie and Aniukwu deceived their victims by claiming they had received substantial inheritances that required money to be claimed. The duo would then ask the victims to send money with the promise of reimbursement once the inheritances were secured.

The statement also highlighted that the pair carried out romance scams, building online relationships with their victims to gain their trust, only to later demand money.

It read, “An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes.

“Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

“In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a ‘business email compromise’ scam that targeted corporate email accounts.

“The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.”

The statement further noted that after facing at least 14 charges, Ibekie and Aniukwu pleaded guilty to the accusations. As a result, Ibekie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday, while Aniukwu received a 10-year sentence on November 8.

The statement continued, “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Ill., on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.

“Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to 10 years in prison.”

Meanwhile, an accomplice of Ibekie and Aniukwu, US citizen Jennifer Gosha, is set to be sentenced on December 18 following her guilty plea.

“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the statement concluded.

Post Views: 36

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Ebonyi Governor Suspends Health, Housing Commissioners Over “Gross Misconduct, Negligence Of Duty”

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2024

PorscheClassy News

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has suspended the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, and his counterpart in Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori.

The suspensions occurred on Monday during the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, on Tuesday morning, read, “Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health respectively.”

Reports suggest that the suspensions may be linked to the alleged theft of government property by officials in the Ministry of Health and the reported underperformance of the Housing and Urban Development commissioner, particularly regarding his poor management of the Amaeze Housing Scheme in the Ishielu Local Government Area.

It is also recalled that the governor visited the health ministry’s premises on Saturday night, where six officials were allegedly caught diverting government materials. He subsequently ordered their arrest and prosecution.

Post Views: 58