Abia N22bn Paris Club Refund : Obinna Oriaku’s Counsels Write Abia Assembly, Warns Investigative Panel | SEE DOC

THE SPEAKER
ABIA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
ABIA STATE.
Sir,

MISAPPROPRIATION OF N22 BILLION PARIS CLUB REFUND: ABIA ASSEMBLY BEGINS PROBE OF EX-COMMISSIONER

The above subject refers.

We are solicitors and have the instruction of Mr.Obinna Oriaku, ex- commissioner of finance 2015-2019 under the administration of His Excellency Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu otherwise referred to as “our client ” to forward this letter to your esteemed office as a matter of urgency.

A copy of Vanguard Newspaper Vol. 27 No 64368 of Wednesday June 30,2021 made available to us by our client shows that the Abia state House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt.Hon.Chinedum Orji on Monday 28/06/2021 set up an ad-hoc committee for the probe of our client over his role in the alleged misappropriation of Abia state’s share of Paris club refund sequel to a petition from the law firm of Ndukwe Iheanyi & co and at the instance of Messrs Anthony Aniobi and Lekwauwa Ndubueze.

While it is not our clients intentions at this point to dwell on the merits or otherwise of the petition, we think that it is necessary to draw the attention of the Speaker and the members of the Abia state House of Assembly to the following facts:

1. That the subject of the probe has been caught up by the legal doctrine of #sub-judice#, the subject being live issues before courts of competent jurisdiction. By the application of the said doctrine, the Abia State House of Assembly is prohibited from public enquiry and/or discussion of the issues incidental, connected, arising and/or relating to Abia state’s share of the Paris club refund.
2. For the records we wish to make it public that the subject of the probe is pending before the federal High Court Abuja, in suits Nos (1) #FHC/HC/CV/2470/2017 Mauritz Walton Nig.Ltd V Abia state.
   (2) FHC/ABCJ/CS/323/2017-Ziplon concept Ltd V Government of Abia state & 4 ors#
   (3) FHC/ABJ/CS/324/2020- ziplon concept & Abia state government V Federal government of Nigeria & 4 ors#
3. That the entire suits have forgery and lack of due process in the award of the contracts as its livewire hence His Lordship Justice Alade (J) in one of his rulings ordered that the N100 million Naira paid to Ziplon ConceptLtd be paid back to Abia state Government.
4. That the ad-hoc committee set up by Rt.Hon Chinedum Orji runs contrary to the Latin maxim of #nemo judex in causa sua# considering his relationship with the former Governor of Abia state Chief TA Orji ( who is his father) who interestingly also have explanations to make relating to his involvement in the Paris club refund to Abia state and its management.
5. Aside the ongoing litigations at the Abuja Federal High Courts, a similar matter affecting the questionable engagement of two consultants for the said Paris club refund between 2011 and 2014 ( when Chief TA Orji was Governor of Abia state) at 20 and 30% which would have resulted to payment or loss of N11 Billion Naira as consultancy fees (being 50% of N22 Billion naira ) is also subject of an ongoing investigation before the EFCC Enugu zonal office.
6. That the ad-hoc committee set up by the Rt.Hon Chinedum Orji’s led Abia House of Assembly apart from the burden of manifest conflict of interests it suffers is also an undiluted attempt to distract and pollute the natural course of investigation geared towards unraveling how the Abia state’s share of the Paris club refund was managed by the previous government.
7. Flowing from the above, it will therefore be contrary to reason and a complete absurdity for our client to submit himself and/or take part in the ad-hoc committee’s proceedings over a matter which has reached advanced stage(s) before courts of competent jurisdiction and the EFCC.
8. We on our clients behalf urge you to use your office to advise the house to do the needful, which is,to terminate the life of the ad-hoc committee packaged with obvious intents to witch- hunt ,vilify and unduly harass our client forthwith. This is to save the house from embarking on a cost and time draining wild goose chase.

TAKE NOTICE that peradventure the house fails and /or refuses to heed to this clarion call, our client will be left with the only option of approaching the law courts for restraining orders against the Abia State House of Assembly and this shall be without further notice to your office .

Let wise counsel prevail

Yours faithfully
For: Chibueze
&
C.C Uhuaba Esq.