Another member of President Jonathan’s cabinet has been found wanting as regards the epidemic of subsidy fraud in the country.
Pinnacle Contractors Limited, owned by Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief a\Emeka Wogu was paid N2.7 billion by the Ministry of Finance for fuel it never supplied.
The revelation was brought to the fore by activist group, The Anti-Corruption Network, which is headed by former National Assembly member, Dino Melaye.
Pinnacle has its registered address at 20, Umuoele, Aba, Abia State. The directors of the company are Chief Emeka Wogu (with a 75% shareholding), his wife, Mrs. Oyababefe Wogu with 15% shareholding and his son, Enyinnaya Wogu with 10% shareholding.
The company registration documents show a resolution which removed Chief Emeka Wogu as a director, as well as his family. However the Anti-Corruption Network claim the resolution was forged. In any event, the company was used to siphon billions of Naira from the National Purse in an illegal and wholly fraudulent manner.
According to the statement released by the activist group, “It is shameful and disgraceful that the Minister ofLabor and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu heading the white paper Committee on the Ribadu led petroleum Revenue special task force has now been indicted in the illegal payment of # 2.7 billion to a company for fuel that was never supplied, He can not be a judge in his own case.
“Now, how do we perceive the man who went every where in January to inflict pains and torture on Nigerians during the fuel subsidy protest in January.
Barr. (Chief) Emeka Wogu during the subsidy protest in January said “we don’t have to explain to the people we rule”, now we know better. His wife and son were Directors in the said company till July this year.”
The Minister has been asked to resign in a petition which also asks the President to fire him if he refuses to do so.