Calls have been made to security agencies, including the police and the EFCC, to apprehend and bring to justice Senator Athan Achonu, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Imo State. An NGO named the United Nigerian Youth Forum has accused Senator Achonu and his company, Mathan Nigeria Ltd, of allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N57 billion.
The allegations claim that Senator Achonu and his company were involved in a scheme to defraud the government under the pretext of constructing and equipping comprehensive health centers across all 774 local government areas in the country. The organization asserts that Senator Achonu received an initial payment of N37 billion but failed to complete 70% of the contracted work. Despite this, he secured a court order to receive an additional N20 billion.
The NGO alleges that the funds intended for the health centers were misappropriated for political ambitions, notably Senator Achonu’s governorship campaign. The organization claims that this mismanagement has resulted in incomplete health centers and subsequent harm to citizens in need of medical care.
Providing data on the status of the project’s completion across local government areas, the youth group alleges that only 30% of the work has been finished, with 70% abandoned. They point out that only after Senator Achonu began his governorship campaign did he rush to complete health centers in Imo State.
The group contends that Senator Achonu’s actions need to be addressed by the law, asserting that no one should evade accountability for defrauding the government of such a significant amount of money. They call for his arrest and prosecution and pledge their willingness to assist in shedding light on the alleged fraud and testifying in court. The group urges the media to keep the issue in the spotlight and prevent it from being ignored.