Resident Drags State Commissioner To Court Over Alleged Fraud, Fake Visas To France
Resident Drags State Commissioner To Court Over Alleged Fraud, Fake Visas To France
The commissioner allegedly conferred on them fictitious roles such as drummers, dancers, and instructors.
An Enugu State resident, Chinyere Onyeyiri, has instituted legal proceedings at the Enugu State High Court to recover the sum of over N13,000,000, allegedly paid to the state Commissioner for culture and tourism, Barrister Ugochi Madueke, in a fraudulent scheme.
According to the court documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, Onyeyiri, represented by her lawyer, Barrister OAU Onyema, said the state commissioner, allegedly abusing the powers and trust vested in her official capacity, issued authentic-looking Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism identification cards to his client and other victims.
The plaintiff further alleged that the state commissioner defrauded thirty-four (34) unsuspecting Enugu citizens under the false pretence of securing French visas for their participation as official members of the Enugu State Cultural Troupe contingent to the 2024 Olympic Games in France.
The commissioner allegedly conferred on them fictitious roles such as drummers, dancers, and instructors.
Enugu Resident Drags State Commissioner To Court Over Alleged Fraud, Fake Visas To France
The case has the commissioner as the sole defendant.
Commenting on the incident, a source familiar with the matter, Ambassador Jude Okoronkwo called on the Enugu State government to also initiate “an immediate, impartial, and comprehensive investigation into the allegations.”
Okoronkwo said, “Unmasked here is a meticulously orchestrated fraud involving the defrauding of 34 unsuspecting Enugu citizens under the false pretence of securing French visas for their participation as official members of the Enugu State Cultural Troupe contingent to the 2024 Olympic Games in France.
Enugu Resident Drags State Commissioner To Court Over Alleged Fraud, Fake Visas To France
“Barrister Madueke, allegedly abusing the powers and trust vested in her official capacity, issued authentic-looking Enugu State Ministry of Culture and Tourism identification cards to the victims, conferring on them fictitious roles such as drummers, dancers, and instructors.
“The Enugu State government is hereby put on urgent notice to thoroughly investigate an alleged criminal enterprise perpetrated by Barrister Ugochi Madueke, the current Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, alongside Mr. Greg Anyaegbudike, the Executive Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area.
Enugu Resident Drags State Commissioner To Court Over Alleged Fraud, Fake Visas To France
“This alleged misuse of public trust and funds constitute serious offences under Nigerian criminal law, including but not limited to obtaining by false pretences, criminal breach of trust, and abuse of office.
“The Enugu State government is hereby formally called upon to initiate an immediate, impartial, and comprehensive investigation into these allegations. Failure to do so will implicate the government in a cover-up and render it complicit in allowing public officers to perpetrate grand corruption with impunity.
The court summons filed at the Enugu State High Court showed relevant documents, including identification cards issued to the victims, forged correspondences, bank payment slips etc which are appended to this report for further scrutiny. This exposé demands urgent action by the authorities and vigilance from the public to ensure justice is served and the dignity of Enugu State and its citizens is preserved.”
