N500 ALLEGED FRAUD IN SUBEB: DELTA ONLINE PUBLISHERS PROTEST THREAT TO LIFE OF ONE OF ITS MEMBERS BY OKOWA’S AIDES

National




The Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) has been briefed of alleged threat to life of one of its members, Mr. Albert Ograka, Publisher of www.blanknewsonline.com, an online news website based in the  state, following a report published in the medium, which bothers on alleged fraud in State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), an agency of the Delta state government.
DOPF was briefed by Ograka who was carrying out his lawful duties that agents and officials of the Delta State Government issued  threat to his life over the said report.
Our members have been going about their duties of bridging the gap between the government and the people and also holding the government accountable to the people responsibly, therefore, we wouldn’t condole any attempt to hound us from this sacred responsibility.
If as was told statutory anti corruption agency who were reported to have carry out the said arrest had not denied the said report since it was published, then we make bold to condemned the idea of bullying, harassing, intimidating and threatening journalists who are doing their legitimate business from agents of Delta state government that has enjoyed robust media coverage from our members.
We had expected officials of the state government to, in the first instances with the level of cooperation given to this government by DOPF, reach out to its leadership instead of resorting to direct threat as we have been briefed about by our member. This we think is the right thing to do.
However, we want to give the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu who was alleged to have called and requested that the said report be taken down or would launch security agents against our member the benefit of the doubt to state his direct reaction to the report that has warranted this threat to life alarm.
We called on the CPS to the Delta state governor, Mr. Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, the Executive Assistant to the governor, Directorate of Orientation, Delta state, Mr. Eugene Uzum, who were alleged to have made the threat phone calls to strengthened their personal relationship with journalists to avoid misgiving of this nature capable of jeopardizing our corporate mutual relationship with the government.
While calling on our members to ensure that every of their publications are within the ethic of the journalism profession, we also called on other agents of the government who want to leverage on the said incident to veer their anger on journalists and our members to trend carefully because DOPF wouldn’t stand against itself for any reason for any overzealous government official. We therefore by this statement put members of the public on notice to know who to hold responsible in case any harm come near Mr. Albert Ograka and his family.
Signed:
Shedrack Onitsha
Secretary, DOPF

THE STORY
Former Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Pat Ejete and three others, including serving Directors have been whisked away by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defrauding the state government of over N500 million meant for Nomadic activities since 2012.
The fund allegedly looted was part of the annual N156 million Federal Government’s fund released for Nomadic education in three years, amounting to N468 million.
The former SUBEB boss was allegedly arrested by EFCC officials on Thursday, July 5, 2018 at her home while others were picked up at the SUBEB office located on Mariam Babangida Way, off Okpanam road in Asaba.
Eye witnesses account revealed to Blank NEWS Online that the anti corruption officials , numbering about 11 had laid siege on the premises on the fateful day to arrest the the culprits, who have allegedly been dodging and avoiding apprehension by security officials.
A staff of the Board who spoke on conditions of anonymity, told Blank NEWS Online that the amount allegedly stolen by the SUBEB officials under the watch and leadership of Mrs. Pat Ejeteh was over N468 million and used her share of the ill-gotten loot to build an estate in Asaba, the Delta state capital.
They were alleged to have shared the monies accrued for nomadic education for Deltans living in the riverine parts of the state which they used in purchasing landed properties and subsequently living stupendously to the chagrin of all.
A riverine community dweller from Burutu local government area of Delta state who does not want his name in print said, “This is absolute wickedness. There are no Federal Government projects and presence in the riverine communities because funds meant for provision of some basic amenities are usually diverted to personal use by greedy civil servants. They deserve severe punishment for depriving the already marginalized people in the Riverside of great benefits.”
A dependable source told Blank NEWS Online that those whisked away by officials of the EFCC includes former SUBEB Chairman, Mrs. Pat Ejeteh, Barr. Ojji, Mr. Emma, adding that the then Accountant who was also under the watchlist of EFCC Mr. Ojoko is now late.
Attempts to contact the present Chairman of SUBEB in Delta state, Mr. Sunny Ogwu proved abortive.
Meanwhile, a source close to EFCC, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed to Blank NEWS Online that the arrested fraudsters would likely be arraigned in court




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