Azubuike Ihemeje, a Port Harcourt-based attorney, has filed a complaint against Mr. Reno Omokri, a former adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, with the EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) about suspected criminal representation.
Ihemeje stated that Omokiri received pay that was in excess of his work status and so obtained pay under false pretences in petitions that were filed to the offices of the two anti-corruption authorities in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
In response to inconsistencies in Omokri's appointment letter and pay slip, which he (Omokiri) uploaded on his social media accounts, Ihemeje filed the petitions.
It will be recalled that a Port Harcourt-based social media influencer and media consultant, Oraye St. Franklyn, had claimed that Omokri was not a direct aide to President Jonathan, rather a personal staff of late Oronto Douglas, who was an aide to President Jonathan.
Franklyn had challenged Omokri to publish his letter of appointment if President Jonathan truly appointed him and, to that effect, adding that the unwholesome grandstanding and misrepresentation by Omokri need to stop as they amount to fraud.
But, taking up the challenge, Omokri had reportedly posted a redacted appointment letter entitled “Appointment as Special Assistant to the President” with a Federal Government employee payment slip that designated his position as Senior Special Assistant to the President.
However, Ihemeje, in the petitions, said that Omokri, by his admission, was obtaining and receiving salaries from the coffers of the FG as Senior Special Assistant, whereas in contrast from his disclosed letter of appointment bears Special Assistant, thereby, showing a clear case of obtaining excess salaries by false pretence.
The petition reads in part: “We write as public interest solicitors and as true patriotic citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a deep sense of responsibility to promote justice through adherence to regulations, rule of laws of Nigeria, and to protect and promote public interests,iIntegrity, the safety of citizens of Nigeria and other members of the public.
“It is in light of the above that we very respectfully forward this public interest petition and request your urgent and immediate intervention on the subject under reference as follows: “That sometime between August 2011 to May 2015, the suspect mentioned above, who operates on various social media platforms with the name; Reno Omokri, by his claims and admissions, worked for the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Special Assistant to the President.
“That sometimes, on September 15, 2022, the suspect voluntarily published his Letter of Appointment and his payment slip as proof of a duly appointed worker in the Federal Government of Nigeria then.
“To our chagrin and a huge disappointment, we observed some fundamental discrepancies between the suspect’s appointment status and the salary designation at our chagrin, and huge disappointment we observed some fundamental discrepancies between the suspect’s appointment status and the salary designation with which he serially obtained.
“That the suspect, by his admission, was obtaining and receiving salaries from the coffers of the Federal Government as senior Special Assistant, whereas, his only disclosed letter of appointment bears, Special Assistant, thereby, showing a clear case of obtaining excess salaries by false pretence.
“That unless the suspect furnishes proof of his subsequent elevation to the status of Senior Special Assistant, we firmly believe that there exist some clear prima facie proofs of a criminal case of misrepresentation, taking and receiving salaries in excess and above employment status, and obtaining money by falsehoods against the suspect.
“He, however, requested organisations to deploy its very best forensic investigative team to thoroughly investigate the case to ascertain the criminal breaches thereof and also to ensure that the suspect and any other person(s) involved in the apparent criminality are brought to book.”