The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has received a petition filed by Acting National President of Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) calling for the investigation of former President of the body, Malachy Ugwummadu and suspended president Dr. Osagie Obayuwana over allegations bordering on financial impropriety.
The petition dated 8th July 2021 was received at the Benin zonal office of the commission on same date July 8, 2021 in Benin, the Edo state capital.
In the petition, Prince Kehinde Taiga acting president of the CDHR, alleged that the duo of Ugwummadu and Obayuwana misappropriated funds of the foremost human rights body in Nigeria.
Taiga, the petitioner, wrote: “I write to officially inform you of the gross misappropriation and embezzlement of funds of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights by Barrister Malachy Ugwummadu during his tenure as national president between 2016 and 2019.
“The same Barrister Malachy Ugwummadu has failed to give proper account of funds generated and received during his tenure neither has the account been subjected to any other external auditing as enshrined in the constitution of CDHR section 22 (1) which is to the effect that the income and expenditure of the organization shall be audited yearly by external auditors to be appointed by the national council for each financial year.”
In the petition, Taiga stated that the CDHR generated funds from other occupants of the premises of the CDHR national secretariat and the body also generated funds from good spirited Nigerians. The petitioner said funds generated are not traceable to any visible project embarked upon by the CDHR during his tenure as president.
He also said Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, who has been suspended from office of the president for allegedly concealing the acts of his predecessor in office and for not being able to account for the over N5million donated by philanthropists and others generated by the organization.
The petitioner said the duo violated and breached the rules of the body by not respecting chapter 7 section 12 subsection 5 and 6, section 22 sub 5 and 6, section 11 sub 1 and 2.
