An anti-graft group, the Advocate of Social Justice and Anti-Corruption Crusaders, has called on anti-graft agencies to probe the outgoing local government chairmen in Rivers State over alleged looting of the treasury in the last few months.
The group in a statement signed by Williams Orji, its National Coordinator, also alleged that the chairmen squandered the internally generated revenues of their various councils and instigated violence in their domains.
Prince Williams said they would petition the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to probe the outgoing Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State for in-depth investigations into the corruption allegations against the outgoing council bosses at the end of their tenure to get justice for Rivers people.
“Our decision follows a series of petitions received from thousands of Rivers State residents alleging embezzlement, gross misconduct, theft, racketeering, nepotism, and threat to public peace among others against their various local government chairmen.
“According to information made available to us, the outgoing LG Chairmen have been looting the treasury and stealing government properties in the last few months. We were told that they have also squandered the internally generated revenues of their various councils.
“Given the weighty nature of the allegations, we conducted an internal investigation and we found out that indeed resources have been embezzled, government properties looted and corrupt practices have taken place in the offices of the outgoing council chairmen.
“In order to get justice for Rivers people, we have packaged our findings into petitions to be forwarded to the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for in-depth investigations into the wanton corruption allegations against the outgoing Local Government Chairmen after their tenure, with the hope that they would be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice to serve as deterrents to others,” the statement added.
