BY VINCENT UJUMADU
A group, Progress Forum for Anambra People, has dragged all the incumbent senators and members of the House of Representatives from the state to court to account for the constituency funds meant for project execution in their areas which, it alleged, were misappropriated by the legislators.

Also dragged to court were lawmakers who were elected in 2007 but removed by the tribunals.

In three separate suits for each of the three senatorial zones filed at the Federal High Court, Awka, the group urged the defendants to account for their stewardship, in line with the principle of democracy and rule of law.

Those named as defendants in the suits are Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, Senator Joy Emodi, Messrs Ralphael Okeke, Chukwuka Onyema, Gozie Agbakoba and Chinedu Eluemuno for Anambra North; Senator Annie Okonkwo, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Mr. Charles Odedo and Mr. Emma Uchieze for Anambra Central, as well as Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah, Mr. Chuma Umeoji, Mr. Chuma Nzeribe, Mr. Vitalis Okafor, Mr. Cyril Maduabum and Dr. Okey Udeh for Anambra South.

Mr. Kanayo Igwenagu, who filed the suits on behalf of three other trustees of the Forum, said in Awka that their action was in consonance with the wind of positive change for good governance and accountability to the people blowing across the African continent which, according to him, is the hallmark of democracy.

In three separate affidavits deposed to at the court, Igwenagu alleged that each of the senators would have been paid N540 million by June, 2011, while each member of the House of Representatives would have been paid N324 million by June 2011 as constituency funds, alleging that they may have appropriated the money to themselves.

According to him, “the plaintiffs are entitled to be given an account by the defendants of how they individually expended the various sums of constituency fund paid them by the Senate and House of Representatives for the benefit of their people.”

He said failure of the lawmakers to use the money for the purpose they were meant had adversely affected the economic and social well being of the people of Anambra State, hence the decision to take them to court.

The court gave the defendants 30 days within which to enter appearances, warning that judgment might be given against them in case of default.