I didn’t collect N6.2bn bribe for Ruga — Nwodo – TheNigerialawyer

Apex Igbo Social Cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has
denied allegations that its President General, John Nnia Nwodo,
alongside former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu collected
N6.2 billion from President Buhari out of N22.2 billion budgeted to
plant RUGA in the country.

In a statement made available to newsmen by the Special Adviser
on Media and Publicity to Nwodo, Emeka Attamah in Enugu, yesterday,
the organisation described the allegations which had been making
the rounds on social media as insidious.

Ohanaeze said that Nwodo and Ekweremadu were not traditional
rulers and therefore didn’t have custody over land in the
South-east.

It maintained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had no control over land in
Enugu State or in the South-east neither did Chief Nwodo and
Senator Ekweremadu.

The organisation stated that the story which was purported to
have emanated from a faceless traditional ruler from Umuchigbo
Abakpa in Enugu State sounded preposterous and deserved to be
consigned to the dust bin

It noted that the purveyors of the story may have underestimated
the intelligence of some audience of the social media as the writer
did not mention the name of the traditional ruler and whether he
was there when money exchanged hands

‘’One would have expected their detractors to have established
the veracity of their claim by giving an insight into how the money
exchanged hands or through which bank accounts they were remitted
to Nwodo and Senator Ekweremadu,’’ it stated.

The organisation noted that it would have been good if the
accusers clarified if Nwodo and Ekweremadu collected the money as
individuals or on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, adding, ‘’They should
also have authenticated their allegation by stating where the said
RUGA settlements are in Enugu State or in the South-east.’

The organisation regretted that despite its efforts to improve
the image of Ndigbo in the comity of Nigerian nation and efforts to
restore Ndigbo to their rightful place in the country, some Igbo
sons and daughters still allowed themselves to be used to undermine
the unity of Ndigbo.

‘’It is pertinent to put the public on notice that more of these
senseless, vitriolic and demented attacks are expected to come from
the stable of these traducers,” it said.

It maintained that many Igbo organisations abound which were out
to enrich their pockets and had opened bank accounts where they
deceive Ndigbo to pay money into, adding that these organisations
only lay claim to their existence by attacking Ohanaeze Ndigbo and
its leadership.