Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere
A coalition of civil society organisations operating under the banner of the Civil Society Alliance Against Corruption and Abuse of Office (CSAACAO) has called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to immediately suspend Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere pending investigations into allegations of forgery, blackmail and other alleged misconduct.
The group made the demand in a joint statement signed by its National President, Comrade Ibrahim Musa; National Secretary, Comrade Chinedu Okafor; and Director of Public Affairs, Amina Abdullahi.
According to the coalition, its position was informed by recent allegations made by Hon. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, who reportedly accused Ugochinyere of involvement in signature forgery, blackmail, manipulation and actions capable of undermining the integrity of the National Assembly.
CSAACAO described the allegations as serious and deserving of thorough scrutiny.
“Our demand follows recent public allegations made by Hon. Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, accusing Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere of involvement in alleged signature forgery, blackmail, manipulation and activities capable of undermining the integrity of the National Assembly,” the statement read.
The group argued that the allegations strike at the core of legislative ethics, transparency and accountability, stressing that the House of Representatives must not ignore claims suggesting attempts to manipulate official processes or misrepresent the positions of elected lawmakers.
“As a coalition committed to the fight against corruption, abuse of office and impunity in public institutions, we believe that allowing Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere to continue to function in his legislative capacity while these allegations remain unresolved would undermine public confidence in the National Assembly and damage the credibility of the institution,” the statement added.
The coalition consequently outlined a number of demands, including the immediate suspension of the lawmaker from all legislative activities pending the outcome of investigations.
It also called for the establishment of an independent investigative panel by the House leadership to examine the allegations, as well as the referral of the matter to relevant anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies for forensic investigation where necessary.
Other demands include the public release of investigation findings and the application of appropriate sanctions, including prosecution, should the allegations be proven.
“The National Assembly must demonstrate that no individual, regardless of status, influence or political affiliation, is above the law. The era where serious allegations against public office holders are swept under the carpet must come to an end,” the coalition stated.
While commending the leadership of the House of Representatives for efforts aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, the group urged Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to act swiftly to safeguard the integrity and public image of the Green Chamber.
CSAACAO maintained that its call was not driven by political considerations.
“CSAACAO wishes to state categorically that this demand is not politically motivated. Rather, it is a patriotic call aimed at preserving public trust in one of the most important democratic institutions in Nigeria,” the statement said.
The coalition warned that failure to take prompt action could further diminish public confidence in governance and accountability.
“Failure by the House leadership to take immediate action may be interpreted by Nigerians as an attempt to shield individuals from accountability, a development that could further erode public confidence in governance.
“The Nigerian people deserve a parliament that is transparent, accountable and free from allegations of forgery, manipulation and abuse of office.”
As of the time of filing this report, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere had not publicly responded to the demands made by the coalition.Editor’s Note: The final paragraph noting that Ugochinyere had not responded helps balance the report and aligns with standard journalistic practice.
