There are strong indications that some of the persons that have brought themselves forward to contest the upcoming National Union of Local Government Employees NULGE elections in Ika North East Local Government Council are not eligible to so.
Ika Weekly investigations revealed that the Human Rights Restoration Movement through its National Chairman, Comrade Barrister Ifeanyi Williams Agholor had petitioned the president of NULGE, Delta State informing him that one Stephen Okwueze was at one time arrested, detained and interrogated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC, who later charged him to High Court of Justice, Kwale.
According to an informed source, the said Mr. Okwueze was alleged to have defrauded the Ika North East Local Government Council, using the company name and official receipt of one Mr. Vincent Omodia, who was said to have testified in court.
The source stated firmly that Mr. Okwueze, whose alleged criminal trial is pending at the High Court of Justice, Kwale is not eligible to contest any election, which he said include the NULGE election within the local government council, arguing that Mr. Okwueze?s indictment by the ICPC, which led the Commission to charge him to court, still stands.
The source also observed that ?going by civil service rule, Mr. Okwueze ought to have been indicted and relieved of his duty until he is able to clear himself from the criminal trial hanging on his neck. It beats our imagination that the Council and Local Government Civil service Commission have not acted on it?.
The petition written by the Human Rights Restoration Movement against Mr. Okwueze which were posted in most health centers in Ika North East Local Government Area, led Ika Weekly to seek audience with the National Chairman of the Human Rights body. However, all efforts made by our reporter to see Comrade Barr. Agholor for his comment proved unsuccessful as his secretary said he had traveled out of town.
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