Governor Peter Obi wades into Embattled ASA-USA Crisis with State Funds

    Gov Peter Obi and Prof Allison Anadi in one good turn deserves another !

Numerous US-based indigenes of Anambra State are questioning the decision of Governor Peter Obi to make a trip to the US in what the governor described as an attempt to resolve disputes between some members of the Anambra State Association of USA (ASA-USA) and four officials of the association.

Aggrieved members have filed a lawsuit in a California court accusing the president of the association, Allison Anadi, and three other officials of conspiring to convert and misappropriate the association's funds. The three other defendants are Jonathan Okafor, Victor Nwanso, and Olisa Oraelosi.

The plaintiffs, Chris Ikeanyi and Pius Okafor, allege in the lawsuit that Mr. Anadi, a former professor of criminal justice, and his fellow defendants conspired to convert various sums belonging to the association, including a $60,000 donation made to ASA-USA by Ifeanyi Uba, a  businessman who is one of many candidates aspiring to become the next governor of Anambra.

In an email to 31 members of the association residing in different parts of the US, Governor Obi invited them to a peace meeting scheduled for 8:30 p.m. today, May 3, 2013 at the Hilton Newark Airport Hotel in Newark, New Jersey.

The governor's letter, sent on his behalf by special assistant Valentine Obienyem, offered invitees $500 each to cover their flight tickets. In addition, the governor disclosed that the state government would cover hotel and feeding expenses for one night for each invited guest.

The full text of the governor's email, obtained by SaharaReporters from several of the invited guests, read:

PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES IN ASA-USA

The above subject matter which has been brought to my attention refers.

As the Governor of Anambra State, I am saddened by the challenges in ASA-USA. ASA-USA is one of the progressive associations of Anambra people in the Diaspora. Over the years, your concern and readiness to partner with us in the development of our State has been applauded. Your yearly medical mission is an innovation other States are now emulating.

It is disheartening to learn of the division among you, which has led to what can be described as INTERNET war, as well as court actions.

As the Governor of Anambra State, who has been close to you, and bearing in mind that no meaningful development can take place in the atmosphere of disunity, I appeal to you that it is about time we sat together as brothers and sisters and discuss the problems facing ASA-USA and see ways to amicably resolve the misunderstanding.

Though this may be difficult for you and me, considering everybody's tight

schedule, I plan to come to the USA on May 3rd, 2013 for this purpose and wish to extend the invitation to you to be part of the meeting as follows:

Venue: Hilton Newark Airport Hotel, 1170 Spring Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey, Phone 908-351-3900

Time: 8:30pm

Date: Friday, 3rd May, 2013

Please note that there will be a flat rate of $500 refund for the local flights of all those invited. The one night room and board will also be covered.

Kindly accept assurances of my highest regards as we work together for peace and progress of our State.

Five of the invited members indicated their readiness to travel to New Jersey to meet with the governor, even though most of them questioned its wisdom. I will go despite the short notice, said one of them. Asked whether they would accept the $500.00, they all answered in the affirmative. One of them jokingly said the payment was part of my national cake.

Several of them agreed that Governor Obi's visit and the expense of hosting the talks constitute wasteful expenditure of scarce public funds. The matter should be left in the hands of the court in California that is handling it, one said.

Another invited guest said, Governor Obi has said this is a peace mission, but I think it is nothing more than a jamboree. Even so, he said he decided to attend the meeting in order to watch and see what the governor is up to and to be able to expose the way our funds are squandered.

We also spoke to two invitees who said they have no plans to attend today's meeting with Governor Obi. The case in court is going well, one said yesterday. He added, Just today, the judge gave a temporary order restraining Dr. Anadi and his fellow defendants not to utilize the funds of ASA-USA in paying their attorneys and not to use our funds to travel again. I don't think the governor's intervention at this point will serve any purpose.

Both sources opined that Governor Peter Obi should have used the money he voted for this trip to solve some of the serious problems facing the people of his state. The governor spoke about our medical mission in his email. Why not save the money he is wasting and spend it on buying equipment for one or two hospitals in our state? one source asked.

The source said it was likely the governor's peace initiative would cost Anambra people more than $100,000 dollars. He said his calculation was based on the governor's first class tickets as well as the flight tickets of his aides, their hotel and limousine expenses in addition to what the governor promised to offer to those who attend the meeting. I know that peace is important. But in this day and age, there are other ways of achieving peace without the governor leaving important state matters to journey to America. And does it mean that the governor has solved all the quarrels at home in Anambra? If not, why is he coming here to address us on something that is already in court? The source dismissed the possibility of the governor's mediation resulting in the withdrawal of the lawsuit against Mr. Anadi. It's impossible to withdraw the lawsuit at this point, said the source. The case will go on until we get a full account of what happened to the association's funds, he added.

Yesterday, the California court ruled in favor of Chris Ikeanyi and Pius Okafor who are suing to prevent what they claim are further damages and injury to the association through stealing.

In a decision that many aggrieved members regard as a saver, the court ordered Anadi, Jonathan Okafor, Victor Nwanso and Olisa Oraelosi never to use any money from the ASA-USA to pay for their attorney's fees. The judge also ordered them never to use ASA-USA funds to travel again and not to destroy or attempt to destroy the association's financial records in any cover-up scheme.

In a report that rankled many members. Mr. Anadi claimed that he spent $12,000 of the association's funds on trips within a space of three months. Jonathan Okafor, the association's secretary, published an ostensible comprehensive financial statements that was widely rejected by members who described it as a panic measure and inadequate. Another defendant, Victor Nwanso, who is the association's financial secretary, then reportedly issued his own accounting records. Confused by the conflicting reports, many of the association's branches began to distance themselves from the activities of the umbrella organization.

Prior to yesterday's court ruling against them, Mr. Anadi and other defendants had also lost a bid to stop the lawsuit against them. The judge insisted that on proceeding with their case, dismissing their plea to have the case thrown out on the grounds that they reside outside of California.

Some of the sources said they were wondering why Governor Obi decided to dabble into a case where people are accused of having stolen funds. It's poor judgment on the governor's part, said a member of the association, a lawyer. 

Reckless spending and financial expenditures by the Anadi group. “We are talking about mixing up politicians’ money with personal money; we are talking about issuing fraudulent reports; we are talking about using $1000 to gold-frame a picture; we are talking about one million naira allegedly used to make T-shirts; we are talking about the president billing us $12,000 dollars in three months for travels to Nigeria. In short, we are talking about a board that has zero constitutional powers to check those excesses. We are talking about misappropriating money we set aside for building a secretariat. We are talking about running ASA-USA with the same excesses they run every failed institution in Nigeria. We cannot tell the difference between the way they run ASA-USA and the way they run APGA. It is all politics now and Peter Obi sees nothing wrong with that either because that is how he operates or his motive is to pocket the association for political reasons. In short, the Governor is not showing that his brand is accountability and transparency but something else.”
The “reform” source described ASA-USA as an association “that may never recover from the Intensive Care Unit where it is now on life support,” adding that Governor Obi’s ill-advised intervention might embolden the embattled Anadi and his co-defendants to stiffen in their position, inviting a stiffer fight to remove them. He added that the ensuing fight might either spell doom for the association or lead to a revamped ASA-USA that can reclaim its watchdog role. The source said his group was insisting on three Rs: resignation, restitution (by Anadi and his executive), and reformation of the association. He added that several groups were prepared to file other lawsuits if the plaintiffs in the current one ever bowed to Governor’s Obi’s attempt to truncate full accountability. “We must produce the desired result of redirecting ASA-USA back to her core mission,” said the source.

ASA-USA:The Monetary Crisis & Leaders Egocentricity in a Beguiled ASA-USA 501(1)c

Why  Mr. Chris Ikeanyi, a one-time supporter of Prof Allison Anadi suddenly turned off the Light against Dr Anadi and his predeccessor Dr Anakwenze  seen below 

click here:
http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/18567945/1718130298/name/ASA-USA

Chronological sequence of events leading to this crises. Please read:

2008- 2011: Our in-depth investigation proved that for four years Chris Ikeanyi managed ASA-USA Medical Mission pharmacy under Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenzes administration. That for four years no trace of ASA-USA medical equipment of any sort was known. Our respondents wonder - how come that every year that ASA-USA medical mission purchases the same equipment? And what really happened to all of them? We found out also that for four years that there was no trace of any medication that remained after medical mission, under the management of the pharmacy by Chris Ikeanyi. Comparatively, we inquired into 2011 Under the Dr. Allison Anadis Administration and his Executive, we found out that ASA-USA for the first time recorded one-bus-load of medication left after medical mission which was itemized and stored at Pius Okafors residence in Enugwu-Ukwu.Our investigation revealed that Mr. Ikeanyi is yet to account for all the left over medications under his care after the 2012 medical mission.

 

2012: Dr. Anadi made a decision to tighten all ends and replaced Ikeanyi with Ms. Grace Clark. The result, we learnt, was a reasonable quantity of medication left, itemized and stored again at Pius Okafors residence in Enugwu-Ukwu. Mrs. Grace Clark controlled the flow of medication in and out of ASA-USA inventory and again she performed a wonderful job. 

2012: We further was able to confirm that for the first time blood pressure equipment and orders were documented and stored to be used in 2013. First in history of ASA-USA medical mission.

2011: - Chris Ikeanyi got highly upset because he did not manage the medication inventory in 2011 as usual. He therefore resigned after the mission. Please note that our investigation shows that Chris Ikeanyi and Dr. Anago had always conducted their private medical mission in Neni and Enugwu Agidi annually after ASA-USA medical Mission.Based on these revealations, we can conclude that Chris Ikeanyi has a personal reason to be upset with the current ASA-USA administration and has decided to go to any level to revenge at the administration.

2011: We confirmed that during 2011 medical mission, Chris Ikeanyi contracted his Enugwu Agidi family member to cater food for the local volunteers. He did that without consultation or approval. The food person arrived with food and payment was demanded from Olisa Oraelosi, ASA-USA Treasurer, to pay approximately N50,000 for the day. Olisa resisted the pressure and refused to pay for non-budgeted item. This Chris Ikeanyi contract would have cost ASA-USA N50,000 x 21days = N1,050,000 for feeding the local volunteers only. This first day contract was later paid for but Ikeanyi was asked to terminate the contract immediately. Chris Ikeanyi was said to be highly infuriated at Dr. Anadi and vowed to revenge.

2011: ASA-USA was in search of fund. A lady from Ukpor who was said to be Alex Okekes sister, promised to give ASA-USA $10,000 if they repeat medical mission in Ukpor. Dr. Anadi consulted with John Obegolu who agreed that we could go if that could help in fundraising. ASA-USA agreed to visit Ukpor, Alex Okekes town on a Saturday.

Unfortunately, this Saturday was the Saturday ASA-USA had scheduled micro finance in Oraeri (Anadi's town) and Neni (Dr. Anagos town & Ikeanyiâs In-law). Dr. Anadi talked to Dr. Anago about the need for schedule change to accommodate Ukpor. Dr. Anago agreed. Later, Dr. Anagos wife, who is Chris Ikeanyis sister called Dr. Anadi and indicated how highly upset she was about the change. She told Chris Ikeanyi her brother, again, this infuriated Chris Ikeanyi to the extent that he boycotted the mission and made up his mind to seek revenge against Dr. Anadi.

Chris Ikeanyi left ASA-USA 2011 medical mission on a Friday before the Saturday for Ukpor. Before he left, Chris Ikeanyi, called John Obegolu, the medical mission coordinator, and strictly advised him not to go to Ukpor. "He was determined to sabotage Ukpor medical mission and he took steps to do so". The next day - Ukpor day“ Chris Ikeanyi, Dr. Chris Anago and Mrs Anago all disappeared, but resurfaced during the next mission in another town. Our source continued, "This is annoyance bundling The bundling effect continued, which later led to Dr. Anago resigning after 2011 mission, followed by Chris Ikeanyi. It is called bundling effect. Therefore, do not blame corporate America when they refuse to hire husband and wife and/or family members in the same organizational unity. It is because of bundling effect.You go figure.

CHRIS IKEANYI AND ASA-USA NEC

2010: Chris Ikeanyi was a strong supporter of ASA-USA NEC as long as NEC is doing his wish and as long as his personal interest is covered.

2011: Once Chris Ikeanyi was denied access to medication warehouse / inventory management, once he was denied the N1,050,000 food contract and many more that need not be mentioned at this time, Chris Ikeanyi was said to become become militant.Another source reasoned thus: "For a school principal“ Chris Ikeanyi to rush to court before using organizational internal mechanism to resolve conflict makes one wonder what he is telling and teaching school kids. For the son of Igwe of a town to resort to court than going to his umunna makes one wonder if he learned anything from his fathers traditional administration and handling of conflicts. For the son of Igwe of Igbo land to be a part in insulting another Igwe of a town here in USA, makes one wonder if Chris Ikeanyi is a true son of Igwe and does he understand the culture of his people?"

CHRIS IKEANYI AND ASA-USA FINAL

Another source from Maryland opined "It is good for Chris Ikeanyi to have ambition to be the president of ASA-USA, but not by all means possible. He must follow due process – the democratic process. But if you really change to a rational thinking mode, Chris Ikeanyi might as well forget it because other ASA-USA chapters aburoo Ewu“ they are not goat. You see - - -

ASA-USA President-Jimmy Asiegbu from  ASA-SC Chapter

ASA-USA President- Nwachukwu Anakwenze from ASA- SC Chapter

NEXT ASA-USA President  Chris Ikeanyi - ASA-SC Chapter

Gwanu Ikeanyi na Anakwenze na mmadu aburo ewu

Ikeanyi should tame his quest because it is not gonna happen"

Our Houston source listed these as CHRIS IKEANYI UNHOLY/UNCHRISTIAN MOVES

1. Condemn Anadi Administration by revenge mode

2. Tarnish their image through fake names, lies, Hawk and Aniedobe

3. Swing into vote of no confidence because NEC did not submit financial report to him immediately as he personally requested.

We read from Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze's repeated postings that ASA-Los Angeles passed a vote of no confidence against Anadi's executives for not submitting Financial Statements to them; however De Facts Team found out that up to this moment, that Chris Ikeanyi has not produced to the financial secretary the receipts of ASA-USA funds he spent during 2011 medical mission for clearing of medications despite repeated demands. So should ASA-Los Angeles conduct a Vote of no confidence against Chris Ikeanyi? We further learned from a Los Angeles source that Chris Ikeanyi had appealed to his members to support him in his lawsuit against Anadi and ASA-USA. Unfortunately for him, the members rebuked him vehemently, trashed the said motion and warned him against any attempt to drag them into his personal vendetta against Anadi. Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze was said to be extremely elated on the success of the motion of no confidence against Anadi. He was heard saying "ASA-World e merigo ha, Anyi azopia go ha, Anyi etigbugo ha. Nkea bu mbido". We equally observed that he has posted this resolution uncountable times to all the internet forums in rejoice.

Based on these facts, we can safely conclude that Chris Ikeanyi has vengeance on his mind because many reasons and most importantly he was denied access to what he was used to during Dr. Anakwenzes administration of a no record keeping. Ikeanyi has bundled vengeance. 

Stay tuned for our upcoming report on Dr. Anadi's controversial expenses as soon as we conclude our verifications.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gofmora/8128011333/in/set-72157631865210721/

(The $67,000.00 dangled carrot ) 

 

Reason #1: Anadi has compromised ASA-USA 501(1)c status by plunging the association into politics. ASA-USA is a Non-partisan, Non-political socio-cultural organization and as was observed during the two previous ASA-USA administrations. Because of ASA-USA non-political affiliations, the federal government of Nigeria granted our association the status as one of the election monitors in Nigeria. Now, that status has been compromised by Allison Anadis partisan politics in the name of ASA-USA.  During this past 2012 medical mission, Allison compelled the medical mission volunteers to discard their ASA-USA uniform, which has names of all sponsors at the back and wear  Ifeanyi Uba For Governor T-shirts, which has ONLY his name.

Tufia Kwa Prof? Anadi,  you just sold Ndi-Anambra in the Diasporas interests as Watch Dogs out and completely devalued ASA-USA, including its future.

One of immediate fallout of that decision is that Governor Obi for the first time in the history of his government, refused to attend the ASA-USA 2012 convention, which was held two weeks ago in New Orleans, Anadis backyard because ASA-USA is now a political party run by an unprofessional, unethical, immoral, power-drunk and overzealous Gangsters and Mafia Network, lead by Prof? Allison Anadi. If ASA-USA is already inside Ifeanyi Ubas pocket ONLY, without the rest of other Anambra State Gubernatorial Candidates, how can we monitor him when he becomes the governor?

Please dont quote me wrong here because I dearly love our Ifeanyi Uba. I also, love any other Anambra State Gubernatorial Contestants/candidates, who I advocates for ASA-USA, as a watch dog and not political party, to be given fare shares.

Reason #2: On the New Orleans convention brochure, Prof? Anadi removed the governor’s picture in the traditional location of the inside cover page and placed Ifeanyi Uba’s picture right there. The governor is on the second page in Prof? Anadis brochure. You see that ASA-USA is no longer belongs to Anambrarians but this unprofessional, unethical, immoral, power-drunk and overzealous Gangster and Mafia leader, called, Prof? Allison Anadi. Nakwa nu eche kinu.

Reason#3: Ifeanyi Uba gave ASA-USA $60,000.00 USD during the medical mission and additional $7,000.00 kolanut money for the foreign volunteers. Anadi has not accounted for the money. He deposited the associations money in his private bank account in Nigeria, which is in gross violations of ASA-USA 501(c) (3) nonprofit Status. Prof? Allison Anadi, this money belongs to ASA-USAs bank account and not in your own Bank.

Reason #4: 2012 ASA-USA convention is the first convention where there was no financial account presented to the delegates. When asked about the accounts, Anadi began to cry. Jesus Ekwe kwa na ife dinjo. Prof? Anadi “Akwa Ane belu Ego ($67,000.00 plus uncountable others embezzled)

Reason #5: Anadi has emptied ASA-USA account by his frequent travels to Nigeria for his private businesses, which he always claims to be traveling for ASA-USAs interests. He has also spent more than $30,000.00, ASA-USA sacred secretariat fund reserved for the secretariat project, from the Jimmy Asiegwu-Dr. Anakwenze and now Prof? Anadis regimes. What an Embezzler?

Biko nu, juo nu Prof? Anadi, “Oche na Ndi Anambra bu Ewu.” “Juo nu ya, na oche na Ndi Anambra na ezuzu ezuzu.”

Reason: 6: During this past ASA-USA convention, Prof? Anadi selected members of his gangsters and Mafia Network, as the elected officers and there was no election. They did not even attend the convention and those that who attended, arrived at the convention on Saturday, after the election was held the previous day, Friday. Constitution calls for nominees to be present to contest an election and to be sworn in after winning an election. In fact, the election was not held as stipulated in the Constitution and Bylaw. Therefore, it is an illegal and unconstitutional election.

In the United States, whenever, you register with any Secretary of State as a nonprofit Organization, and thereafter, obtain IRS 501 (c) (3) Tax Exempt status, the first DBA registration automatically becomes knoll and void. It is a very simple Nonprofit Education 101. I wonder the reason why a highly educated illiterate, Prof? Allison Anadi and his gangsters, Mafia Network, who are very familiar with this simple Business Education 101 IRS 501 (c) (3), MANDATORY rules and regulations, knowingly or deliberately and intelligently, conspired with each others, to grossly break the laws of the State of California and United States, to vote for illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, ASA-USAs DBA Constitution/Bylaw,” and not the Constitution used in filling the organizations IRS 501 (c) (3) nonprofit Organization.

Prof? Allison Anadi, if you claim that the DBA Constitution/Bylaw, which you knowingly or deliberately and intelligently, conspired with your gangsters and Mafia Network to vote for, is the correct ASA-USA’s, please can you produce ASA-USAs annual tax fillings because as a for Profit, ASA-USA is mandated by IRS to pay annual taxes. Prof? Nakwa Eche Ki, ife ga atu gi Nga Mkpulu oka soon.  IRS tax evasion.

The unfortunate thing here is that Prof? Allison Anadi is a Professor, who teaches criminal justice. Through is behavior here, it looks like he teaches how to commit crime and not how not to commit crimes. It looks like he went to school to learn how to perfect trying to circumvent the law of the land, which includes the IRS Tax Exempt Section 501 (c) (3) mandatory rules and regulations.

Now, the serious question Asked Today is, When will Anadi be held accountable for his actions?❠His cup is overfull (Iko gi ejugo) because Onwu na Egbu nwan kita, onara ekwe ya enu isisi nsi.” Prof? you will go to Prison.

Prof? Allison Anadi, please I don’t take up issues anyhow. Whenever that I do, it is in the interest of the progress of our community, which is the valid and debatable reasons why, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc is the ONLY African Immigrants Anti-Discriminations, nonprofit organization, in the United States and North America.

More tori on the Way. Therefore, Beko nu, unu anwu na Nmanya Ngwo, na Nkwu enu nabia.

Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, President

Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc

Notice of Hammertime on ASA-USA

For Immediate Release

Washington DC

We have decided to make ASA-USA a poster child for how not to run a US NonProfit Corporation like a bunch of Nigerians.

If you have been paying attention to the forensic review of the 2012 Comprehensive Mission’s Report and

You are

1. A Member of the Executive; 2. Board Member; 3. Member of the House of Delegates; 3. Affiliate President; 4. Committee Chairperson or Program Coordinator;

And

You believe that the matters and supporting documents made available to the public are strictly the palaver of the President and his Executive;

You Are

Sadly mistaken and we sincerely advise you to contact your lawyer to discuss your personal liability exposure.

We believe that it is time to put an end to the days when Board Members or Delegate Members have no idea that they are fiduciaries of our 501c3 corporations and that their primary job is not to circle the President’s wagon but to act like fiduciaries who understand that  the acts, errors and omissions of the President can expose them personally to legal liabilities. 

We believe that :

1.     The Okafor/Ikeanyi lawsuit failed to name all the necessary defendants and we believe that complete justice cannot be done until all the defendants at law are named;

2.     Necessary defendants to be included in that lawsuit or in a separate lawsuit should include A. Other Executive Members not yet named; B. All the Board Members; C. All the Members of House of Delegates; D. All the Affiliate Presidents and E. Key Committee Heads who were alleged to have fraudulently expensed monies;

3.     If the Plaintiffs fail to include all the Defendants, a separate lawsuit may be filed and jurisdiction will be had in any state where ASA-USA has an affiliate, including the States of Maryland and District of Columbia. 

If you are a Board Member, House of Delegate Member, Committee Chairperson or Affiliate President your duties are to provide oversight and direction to the organization so that it can fulfill its mission and you owe those fiduciary duties to ASA-USA, its grantees, and donors and you can be sued by the organization, members, grantees, or donors. Ask your lawyer.

You may be liable for countless allegations as a Board Member, House of Delegate Member, Program Coordinator, including allegations of:

1.     Wrongful acts including commingling of funds, improper distributions, overstatement  of expenses; misuse of restricted funds such as the Secretariat Funds;

2.     Breach of fiduciary duties;

3.     Breach of duty of loyalty;

4.     Bread of duty of diligence;

5.     Financial mismanagement;

6.     Errors in judgment;

7.     Negligence.

If found civilly guilty, you could be personally liable even if you never handled any money.  If found criminally liable, for instance for forging receipts; obtaining property by false pretenses; embezzlement; perjury (forging documents and lying to Court); obstruction of justice (such as trying to hide evidence); or conspiracy to commit any of these acts, you could go to jail.

If you are a Member of the Executive, Board Member, House of Delegate Member, Affiliate President or Committee Chairperson or Program Coordinator, please ask your lawyer if:

1.     Mismanagement and misuse of Secretariat fund can exposure you to criminal or civil liability even though you are not a member of the Executive. You may want to Google United States Attorney Southern District of New York vs. Educational Broadcasting Corporation to find out why Board Members were found liable for $950,000 dollars.

2.     You may also want to Google California Attorney General vs the Monterey County AIDS Project (MCAP) alleging breach of fiduciary duty by the organization and its board for not properly managing and accounting for organization’s assets, diversion and improper distribution of assets, breach of fiduciary duty for failure to use assets for restricted purpose (e.g. Secretariate funds), for comingling assets (e.g. not lodging Ubah’s donation in organization’s account); breach of fiduciary duty for failure to take actions to recover improper diverted funds (e.g. overpayments to Kendo, Topview Hotel, T-shirts, Excess shipping Charges, R and D expenses, excessive travel expenses), failure to keep proper expense records, failure to identify improper spending, failure to account for all assets and failure to inquire about the questionable conduct of a few directors and officers. A copy of the Complaint is attached for your convenience.

We respectfully advise you that:

1.     It is in your best interest to go back and review all the allegations of financial improprieties that we have painstakingly made public over the past couple of weeks using the documents and Reports provided by the Administration;

2.     It is in your best interest to contact your lawyer and get an opinion on your liability exposure; or better still

3.      You may wish to retain a lawyer because chances are very strong that you might need one.

If you are a Past President or Past Executive

Please take due notice that in the event of a criminal investigation, the Attorney General's Office will cast their net as far back as possible. Biko, retain all documents. This is a brotherly advise.

By virtue of this Notice, there is a thirty day Notice in Effect during which:

1.     We want to see the Okafor/Ikeanyi lawsuit amended accordingly to include all the necessary defendants;

2.     We want to see meaningful action by the House of Delegates, the Board of Directors, the Board of Affiliate Presidents and the Program Coordinators aimed at demonstrating a clear commitment to their duties as fiduciaries and to institute appropriate financial oversight and control mechanisms that should take effect immediately.

We strongly caution that it would be a mistake to doubt the seriousness of this Notice.

Anambra Guber: Uba Unveils Himself and his program for Anambra state

Anambra Guber: Uba Unveils Himself and his program

Team progress EU/USA

Anambra State could be said to have figuratively moved to Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, when traditional rulers and presidents generals of town unions from the state converged to discuss with one of their illustrious sons, who wants to vie for governorship.

It was a meeting, where businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba unfolded the plans he has for the state, if elected governor in November.

Indeed, the meeting was part of the consultation, which Uba, chairman and chief executive officer of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, has embarked upon, in his quest to become governor of Anambra State. He also used the occasion to show his guests his business empire, in a facility tour of his companies and business offices.

This, it was gathered, was to let them know that with such big investment, he's not going into government to make money for himself but to work for the socio-economic development of Anambra State.

To be sure, the facility tour revealed so much about Uba. It proved beyond any doubt that he was on ground in business. He is a man who knows his onions in his chosen field of business endeavour. It shows his leadership qualities, as, having successfully managed his business he has all it takes to also successfully manage the human and material resources of Anambra.

It should be mentioned here that this is the first time a business mogul from Anambra State, who is interested in the governorship of the state, has conducted his people round his business facilities and investments as well as let them into his activities. With this Uba scored a first.

The full  tour of Uba's facilities has another thing to commend it for. It is a testimony to the businessman's willingness to sacrifice all he has to liberate Anambra from the shackles of poverty, penury and deprivation. With such positive expose, the good people of Anambra State would not have any doubt whatsoever that Uba is a fit and proper person to be the governor of their state.

Having honoured Uba's invitation in Lagos, they have made a statement to the effect that they believe in this selfish young man, who has, through his "Kero Direct," brought kerosene to the doorsteps of rural and poor people, at a subsidise price, among his other philanthropic gestures.

At the meeting, Uba made his case and gave his guest the floor to ask questions. Of course, the people did ask questions and he was meek and humbly in his answers to the questions. And this is the way it should be, for after all, democracy is government of the people by the people for the people. It was a pretty long town hall meeting of sorts, which lasted from 8pm till 7am the following day.

This shows that Uba is a man who listens and likes to receive ideas from the people. This cross-fertilization of ideas is what drives democracy and leads to good governance.

After the interaction, the people were not only impressed but they were also of the firm view that Uba is the man who God has prepared and positioned to save Anambra State from the ruin and maladministration of yesteryears. The good people of Anambra State do not need to search further or any longer, for the Messiah is here. They have found out from the tour that Uba's investment is huge, massive and outstanding.

The facilities included ships, jetties, depots, filling stations, tankers, and a host of others. It became apparent from findings from the tour that. Uba's Capital Oil & Gas Industries Limited is one of the biggest distributors of petroleum products in Nigeria.

Of great importance is the fact that Capital Oil & Gas has been a major player in the downstream sector even before the subsidy regime. The company has tankers, which supply fuel all over the country. In fact, the activities of the company in the area of supply of petroleum products is one of the reasons fuel is available everywhere today. This is because while other companies hoard fuel in order to make huge profit, Uba's companies are only interested in making the products available to all and sundry. Profit is not the driving force for the company.

On a personal level, Uba awards scholarships to indigent students. There are students who attend various schools in Nigeria, courtesy of Uba's sponsorship. He tars roads everywhere. His filling stations supply fuel free of charge to motorcyclists in Nnewi every Monday. He intervenes in all cases where poor people are being discriminated against or marginalised.

He donates money throughout the federation in pursuant of worthy causes.

This may be the reason his detractors wanted to rubbish him recently by framing him up. To God be the glory, he was vindicated by the court, the court of public opinions and by the National Assembly. It became apparent that his adversaries in business were afraid of his rising profile and success story and they tried to pull him down by tarnishing his image and painting him in black colours as a man who could not settle his debts.

Anambrarians should search no more for a Messiah. We have one already in Uba. All the good people of Anambra State should now take a decision to crown and elect Uba as the next governor of the state. Uba is a great Igbo man who loves his people and Nigeria alike, with great passion and dedication.

His love for the Igbo became even more manifest when he committed a huge sum of money towards giving the deceased Igbo sage and leader, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a decent national and befitting burial.

Uba has come to judgment in Anambra. He is the Messiah Anambra needs. As Jesus was proclaimed by the Almighty God as his beloved son in whom he was well pleased, Anambra people say that Uba is their beloved son in whom they are not only pleased but also in whom they repose great hope and confidence to lead them to the land of promise.

Surely, the cap of governorship of Anambra fits Uba. Let him wear it.

We need men little him, who are richer than the government they want to control and who will not misappropriate public funds, but will augment the same with their own money. We need patriots in power. We need statesmen. We need good men.

Uba is his own man and his own candidate. Politicians who are relying on godfathers should be shunned. The era of godfatherism should be over. The godsons have ruined many states and governments. A distinguished personality and wealthy businessman like Uba will not dip his hands into the coffers of government to help himself because he is richer than the government he will control. Uba is not coming to government to make money.

He is not seeking political office to acquire wealth or buy private jet, which he already has. Uba is coming to create wealth in Anambra, reinvigorate the economy resuscitate ailing infrastructure, provide employment and give hope to the people.

The leaders in Anambra State have seen it all. They are in a position to assess Uba and his pedigree.

TEAM PROGRESS EU/USA|

Ifeanyi Uba promises to immortalise Achebe

The CEO of Capital Oil and a governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba, has promised to immortalise legendary writer, Prof. Chinua Achebe, by training indigenes of the state on literary writing.

He made the promise yesterday while speaking with newsmen as the world-famous author of Things Fall Apart was being buried in his country home in Ogidi in the presence of a large crowd of mourners that included Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan and President John Mahama of Ghana.

Uba, a chieftain of the All Progressives grand Alliance (APGA), described late Achebe as “a great writer whose name cannot be swept under the carpet.”

He thanked God for the good life he lived as well as the legacy he has left behind for children yet unborn.

It would be recalled that the oil magnet contributed immensely towards the erection of the new church building of St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Ogidi, Anambra State, where Prof. Achebe’s funeral service was held late yesterday morning before he was interred. 

PETER OBI’S GOVERNMENT AND SMEAR CAMPAIGN TACTICS (NGIGEPHOBIA)

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra has dismissed claims by his predecessor, Senator Chris Ngige, that the Anambra State Government had received more that N2trillon in the last seven years from the federation account.

Obi, who was reacting to claims by Ngige that he (Obi) had nothing to show for the humongous amount of money he received since 2006 in the development of infrastructure, said he must be a magician to convert the paltry sum his government had been receiving from the federation account into trillions of naira.

Obi, who spoke while inspecting the rehabilitation of the Rojenny Stadium, Oba, said with the N3bn monthly allocation to the state, Anambra could not have got anything close to a quarter of a trillion naira in the seven years he had been in office.

He referred Ngige to the numerous development projects his government has been executing, which far outnumber the projects all the previous governments in the state had executed.

Obi said he knew the machinations of the enemies of the state under different guises to distract him, but that he would not be distracted.

“For those who hate the development of Anambra State or who scheme for the money meant for development to be shared among them, let me happily increase their blood pressure by announcing that by the end of the year, we will spend billions of naira to procure buses for all secondary schools in the state, buy computers for all primary schools in the state, among other revolutionary measures that are coming,” Obi said.

We did the math, and Obi is right. . In six years, all Anambra got if the rate is N3billion is N216billion – less than a quarter of a trillion naira. We also stumbled on this 2011 Vanguard piece where Obi’s information commissioner calls for an ‘improvement’ on his state’s N2billion allocation.

All this leaves us with the N2trillion question. Just how did Grandfather Ngige happen over the figure N2trillion?

PRESS STATEMENT

PETER OBI’S GOVERNMENT AND NGIGEPHOBIA

The attention of His Excellency, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige (OON, KSJ) former governor of Anambra State, has been drawn to the continued smear campaign being waged against him and his erstwhile administration by officials of the present Obi administration in the state.  From all indications, it does appear that these officials blame Dr. Ngige and his officials each time they are cornered to give account of the activities or inactions of the government under their watch. Such hatred and witch hunting was again displayed recently by the incumbent Anambra State Commissioner for Works and Housing, Architect Callistus Ilozumba. According to newspaper reports credited to the commissioner captioned “Anambra roads rehabilitation gulps N40bn”, which appeared in Saturday Champion of November 17, 2007 and another in Sunday Independent of Sunday November 18, 2007 following a Press briefing in which was profusely giving account of the road rehabilitation and construction by the Obi Administration, the commissioner who obviously appeared ill-informed, made some wild allegations, which clearly showed that he was out to either run Dr. Ngige down or has little knowledge of local government areas in Anambra state. The facts below will suffice to show his ignorance and/or mischief.

In the Champion publication, he was quoted as saying that the past Dr. Chris Ngige’s Administration failed to take into cognizance the unusual terrain of the State in road construction by way of providing necessary designs in the roads, an anomaly the present Obi-led government has redressed. He went further to say, “I think it was basically the entire administration’s fault and not that of the Governor alone. It’s the team that worked with him, including the commissioners, they should have advised him properly”.  Continuing he said “Anambra is an erosion prone area and when you do not introduce the road design to channel the water to its final  resting place, you are going to have problems and if you go to those erosion prone areas now, you will see what I am talking about”.

In the Sunday Independent, he accused Governor Ngige of not spreading road construction projects in the entire local government areas of the State, and that he limited the construction to the two council areas -Idemili North and South.

While it is not the intention of Gov. Ngige or that of those who served in the Administration to join issues with the Anambra Works & Housing Commissioner on his bogus claims, tissue of lies and pernicious propaganda, however, we owe it a duty to use this medium to put the records straight for the reading public, Nigerians in general and the Anambra people in particular. 

The assertion of this commissioner in the Obi administration is both mischievous, evil intended and completely misleading and should be ignored.

First, the Ngige administration never awarded any road contract without proper design and all designs for the roads built by the administration included adequate and proper drainage facilities which in most bills were as costly as the roads themselves. In very serious cases, as exemplified in a few of the road projects like (1). Amawbia-Nibo-Mbaukwu-Agulu Road; (2) Onitsha-Enugu Express Way –(Ugwu Nwasike)-Ogidi-Abatete-Oraukwu-AdaziAni Road; (3) Igboukwu-Ezinifite-Uga-Amesi-Umuchu-Umuuzu Road, very colossal erosion control jobs were executed pari-passu with the roads in the immediate vicinities of the projects. These Road/Erosion Projects costing billions of Naira were executed by reputable Contractors employed by the Administration such as RCC Nig. Ltd, SETRACO Nig. Ltd, and Inter Bau Ltd and supervised by highly experienced consultants such as Obiukwu Okeke & Associates.

Secondly, no road contract was awarded without its coming to the State Executive Council where every member made inputs before it went for tender. Most times the memo and bill were referred to the Ministry for the necessary inputs and bills to be inline with the due process procedures of the administration. The essence is to ensure that no contract will be lacking in engineering design/input and that appropriate pricing was done. Most times, the contractor with the lowest, most realistic pricing and a good track record got the job.

Arc. Ilozumba’s swipe at our Government is mischievous, careless and smacks of ignorance and lack of knowledge of what is going on in his Ministry now. We advise him to spend some time studying the project files and the “As-built” drawings for these projects.  Presently, the Administration he serves cannot boast of having designed and constructed up to 30 km of Roads with drains in their 22 months life span. But what they have taken pride in doing is to take people on guided tours of the well constructed roads built by the Ngige Administration. These roads are heavily fortified and reinforced and our Principal, Dr. Ngige, informed Anambra People during the construction of these roads that they will last 20years with proper and adequate maintenance. Therefore, instead of dissipating energy in unnecessary witch hunt and propaganda, Arc. Ilozumba and his principal should do the proper thing by engaging the services of Grade “A” contractors and consultants as opposed to the hordes of quack, half baked and inexperienced contractors and consultants that Mr. Ilozumba has presently recruited and flooded the State with.

The Ngige Administration funded their projects all year round and work was going on all year round. In fact in the rainy season, our contractors concentrated their work on erosion and concrete drains works and their certificates were promptly paid against the present visionless practice, of asking contractor to demobilize from March to November (8 months), because of the rains for the whole 2007 year. Moreover, the lack of proper pricing, due process and malnourished funding of the projects have resulted in a lot of abandoned projects. Rather than jealously criticize the solid road net work bequeathed to Anambra people, he should fashion a way of, first, kick starting the abandoned Zik Avenue, Awka dualization (which is one of the bone of contention between the Obi Administration and Awka People); Ojoto (Mimli John)-Ichi Road; Onitsha-Owerri Express-Obosi-Eke Ora (Eze Iweka Road); and Onitsha-Atani-Ossomala-Ogwu Ikpele Road; and Nkwo Nnewi-Nkwo Oraifite Road, Nibo-Umuawulu-Amaokpala-Oko Road  all very strategic roads awarded and started by the Ngige Administration but abandoned by the present administration.

On the issue of spread of the Road works done by the Ngige Administration, we note that Mr. Illozumba is being economical with the truth for reasons best known to him and his master, but he should realize that white lies do not stand empirical test. “Seeing is believing” is also an English adage, but even the dumb and deaf and Anambrarians and visitors to the State know that the asphalted roads like Aguleri-Umuleri-Nteje-Awkuzu-Ifite Dunu-Oyeagu Abagana-Umunnachi-Eziowelle-Abatete-Uke-Ideani-Nnobi transverse the six Local Governments of Anambra West and East LGA, Oyi LGA, Njikoka LGA, Idemili North LGA and Idemili South LGA; while the 57 km Igbokwu-Ezinifite-Uga-Amesi-Umuchu-Umunze-Ogbunka-Owerre Ezukala-Isuochi/Abia State Border covered the two LGAs of Aguata and Orumba, while Agulu-Adazi Ani-Nnokwa-Nnobi-Nnewi-Ozubulu-Okija transverses 5 LGAs of Anaocha, Idemili South, Nnewi North, Ekwusigo and Ihiala LGAs, while its counter part from Neni-Awka Etiti-Nnewi-Utu-Ukpor-Orsumoghu-Isseke (Imo Boarder) transverses 5 LGAs: Idemili South, Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ihiala LGAs. All these roads were built with asphalt overlay and reinforced concrete drains and erosion works.

Being economical with the truth by any administration is usually counter productive, for the populace will stop trusting such a Government, a situation which the Ngige Administration has divorced from the psyche of Anambra people.   

A bad workman will always quarrel with his tools, even if you give him all the resources in the world. Anambra people have not seen any trace of Mr. Ilozumba’s N12bn completed road network, much more the bogus N40bn. It’s now 22 months of the Obi administration and we will only add that the types of Arc. Ilozumba will lead it to perdition with their jaundiced professional advice.  A word is enough for the wise.           

Fred Chukwuelobe

Media Consultant to Dr. Ngige

November 19, 2007