Oshiomhole Corruption Case: Bishop Ochei Writes US, Alleged Threats To Life
The man of God, Bishop Anthony Osadolor Ochei, who instituted a suit asking the Federal High Court Abuja to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute former Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole has petitioned the Government of United State of America (USA) over threats to his life.
Bishop Ochei in a letter dated 18 June 2018, to the Ambassador of the United State of America to Nigeria, said he wrote the letter as a citizen who has been denied good governance as a result of misappropriation and massive looting of state funds.
He said: ‘’I write you this letter from a position of a denied citizen to bring to your attention this very serious case begging for Justice. EFCC has a responsibility to investigate these serious allegations, instead, they have refused to act, and I am getting threats from different quarters for taking steps not to allow this case to end up like many others, especially those concerning APC members that are swept under the carpet.
Bishop Ochei said that Nigeria government anti-corruption war compromised.
He, however, appealed to the government of US to kindly use their good offices to ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet.
The letter reads in part; ‘’I wish to intimate you of the way and manner the President Buhari government protects and covers up obvious corruption cases with documented evidence as well as the arrogance exhibited by the ruling party APC members who should under normal circumstances be subject of criminal prosecution.
‘’On the 28th October 2016, I transmitted a detailed petition with over 86 attached exhibits to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and published same in the Daily Sun Newspaper of 7th November 2016. In the petition, I made serious corruption allegations against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who was governor of Edo State from 12th November 2008 to 11th November 2016.
‘’On the 13th December 2016, I wrote a reminder and it was duly received by EFCC to investigate the allegations I made in my original letter. I subsequently made several visits and contacts with EFCC but they ignored my petition and did nothing.
‘’I am now left with no option than to approach the federal high court in Abuja to compel EFCC to investigate the petition against Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
‘’As soon as the story broke, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole began to boast openly that he was untouchable and that no anti-corruption Agency of Government would dare investigate him. He even went further to threaten that as soon as he was installed the National Chairman of APC, he would use all the agencies of his government to hound me for daring to petition EFCC on his activities while he was governor of Edo State, between 12th November 2008 and 11th November 2016.
‘’As a citizen who has been denied good governance as a result of misappropriation and massive looting of state funds, I write you this letter from a position of a denied citizen to bring to your attention this very serious case begging for Justice. EFCC has a responsibility to investigate these serious allegations, instead, they have refused to act, and I am getting threats from different quarters for taking steps not to allow this case to end up like many others, especially those concerning APC members that are swept under the carpet.
‘’Attached are some of the documents I submitted to EFCC. I kindly appeal to you to use your good offices to ensure that this matter is not swept under the carpet. I trust in your fairness and desire to assist in getting rid of corruption in government.’’