Code of Conduct Bureau clears Abia NDDC nominee
By Victor Otigbu
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has denied allegations in “affidavit of facts†sworn to by a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency, Abia State, Mr. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta that the Abia State nominee into the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr.Aloysius Nwagboso, is being investigated by the Bureau for fraudulent activities and false declaration of assets.
The President of Umuorgu Traditional Council in Ukwa- West Local Government Area of Abia State, Mr. Joe Magnus, said in a statement, that CCB had in a letter dated October 23, 2009, signed by Mr. S.I. Abu on behalf of the Chairman of CCB, disclaimed Mr. Nkem-Abonta. The said letter exonerated the Abia State NDDC nominee, Aloysius Nwagboso of unsubstantiated allegations levelled against him by Mr. Nkem-Abonta and his collaborators.
Mr. Magnus, quoting the CCB letter, said the Chairman of the Bureau disclaimed paragraphs 17 & 18 of pages 2 and 3 of Mr Nkem-Abonta’s affidavit sworn to on October 19, 2009, at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which quoted the Bureau of having affirmed that Mr Nwagboso was being investigated, questioned and had appeared before the Code of Conduct Bureau Investigative Panel, amongst others.
According to the President of the Umuorgu Traditional Council, the CCB said Mr. Nkem-Abonta misrepresented operational facts made known to him when he visited the Bureau. He stressed further that the Bureau disclaimed and disassociated itself from Mr. Nkem- Abonta’s assertion that Mr Aloysius-Nwagboso could not present a credible defence regarding his assets declaration.
According to the Community Leader, the Fifth Schedule, Part 1, Section 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution, clearly exempts Part-time members of statutory Boards, including the NDDC Governing Board. He further claimed that Mr Aloysius-Nwagboso’s appointment and present re-nomination was on Part-time basis as against the averments of his critics.
