By CHARLES IWUOHA

A socio-cultural organisation of Izzi extraction, Oganiru Izzi, has challenged Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to immediately release the sacked Commissioner for Works, Mr Stanley Mbam, or charge him before a competent court if the government has credible evidence against him.

The group said the continued detention of the former commissioner without a formal charge raises serious questions about due process and the rule of law.

The leader of Oganiru Izzi, Mr Godwin Mbam, stated this while speaking to Journalists in Abakaliki on Monday.

Mbam condemned what he described as the continued detention of the former commissioner without allowing a court to determine whether he has committed any offence.

He challenged the state government to produce evidence if it believes Stanley Mbam has committed any criminal offence.

“If there is credible evidence against him, charge him to court and let the court decide. If there is no case against him, he should be released,” Mbam said.

He also appealed to the Ebonyi State Police Command to uphold the Constitution and resist any pressure that could result in unlawful detention.

VANCO FLYOVER: “WE WILL REVEAL THE FULL DETAILS”

Mbam issued a three-day challenge to Governor Nwifuru, declaring that if the former commissioner is not released or charged to court, his organisation would make public what it described as the full details of the Vanco Flyover project.

He said the disclosure would focus on questions surrounding the project, including its funding, payments, contracts and other financial details.

“We will let the world know the full details of the Vanco Flyover and how the funds were utilised,” he warned.

He challenged the state government to demonstrate transparency by making the relevant documents available to the public.

The Izzi group also questioned what it described as selective application of the anti-corruption campaign in Ebonyi State.

Mbam referred to allegations concerning an account reportedly frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and an alleged ?1.5 billion forfeiture to the Federal Government, asking why the governor had allegedly not taken similar action if the facts warranted it.

He stressed that he was not opposed to the fight against corruption but insisted that such a fight must be comprehensive and applied equally.

“If Governor Nwifuru wants to fight corruption, let him fight it holistically. Nobody should be targeted while other serious allegations are ignored,” he said.

“IF NWIFURU SAYS HE KNOWS NOTHING, WE WILL PRODUCE THE FACTS”

Mbam further challenged Governor Nwifuru to publicly state whether he was aware of alleged corruption issues within the Works Ministry.

“If Nwifuru publicly claims that he is unaware of corruption in the Works Ministry, I will make public the facts available to me. The facts will shock the state,” he declared.

He insisted that the matter should not become a political vendetta, arguing that the appropriate place to determine criminal liability is the court.

According to him, the people of Ebonyi State deserve answers on the Vanco Flyover and other issues involving public funds.

The Oganiru Izzi leader maintained that the controversy should be resolved through transparency, documentary evidence and due process.

“If there is a case, charge him. If there is no case, release him. The government cannot claim to be fighting corruption while abandoning the principles of justice and the rule of law,” he said.

He warned that failure to address the issues could compel the organisation to make further disclosures concerning the Vanco Flyover and other matters it believes are in the public interest.