A civil society organization known as Imo Accountability for Good Governance (IAGG) has leveled accusations against Chinasa Nwaneri, the Special Adviser on Special Duties to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. According to the group, Nwaneri has allegedly profited from criminal activities and extensive extortion of Imo residents.
James Onwubiko, a human rights lawyer and founder of IAGG, made these allegations during a press conference held in Owerri on Friday. Onwubiko claimed that an independent investigation conducted by his organization has raised several accountability questions concerning Nwaneri’s actions.
The accusations stem from reports received by IAGG from whistleblowers, who have linked the influential gubernatorial aide to a nearly-completed multi-billion naira mansion. The property, situated in Capitol layout, new Owerri, behind the Imo State House of Assembly, is said to have an estimated value of about N1 billion, which is expected to increase upon its completion.
Onwubiko questioned how a government appointee could afford such opulence and further stated that information gathered indicates that Nwaneri operates with several thugs, employing them for state-wide extortion under the guise of unregistered taskforces.
The human rights lawyer alleged that one of Nwaneri’s associates is known as ‘Pape,’ a recognized cultist who allegedly terrorizes individuals, transporters, and traders that fail to pay mandatory monthly protection fees. According to Onwubiko, Pape and his gang, sometimes operating alongside government house police officers and two Hilux vehicles, have been involved in violent encounters.
He claimed that Pape’s group reportedly murdered two commercial motorcyclists who had fallen behind in their payments of the monthly N300,000 protection fee. This occurred despite the government’s prohibition of motorcycle (okada) operations in the city. Community leaders intervened to prevent potential riots and bloodshed.
Onwubiko alleged that Nwaneri has established over six illegal task forces, each reportedly generating at least one million naira daily. Bank records examined during the investigation revealed transactions involving payments from these task forces, as well as from government agencies like the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) and Imo State Government’s Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO).
He disclosed that one of the accounts used to receive these transfers contained payments totaling over N576,000,000.00 (Five hundred and seventy-six million Naira) from 2021 up to the present time. Other accounts were linked to Nwaneri and ‘Orufe Investment Ltd,’ a forex dealing company owned by a friend of Nwaneri.
Onwubiko called on the Governor and relevant security agencies to disclose Nwaneri’s statement of accounts to the public and urged anti-corruption agencies to initiate a financial investigation into Nwaneri’s affairs and the Uzodinma-led administration. He stressed the importance of cooperation with these agencies if Nwaneri has nothing to hide.
The allegations against Nwaneri highlight the ongoing efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability in Nigerian governance.
