IYERE BLASTS MBAH AND ICPC OVER NNAJI: ALLEGES POLITICAL VICTIMIZATION, FRAUDULENT APPOINTMENTS, AND INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE

In a fiery press conference, a coalition of prominent civil society organizations and rights advocates, led by Comrade Kennedy Iyere, raised a fierce public alarm over what it describes as an orchestrated political persecution targeting the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji. Addressing journalists and political observers, the group expressed strong disappointment with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), asserting that the anti-graft agency is allowing itself to be manipulated as a political instrument by state actors in Enugu State. The coalition warned that using federal anti-corruption machinery to settle local political scores or suppress formidable opposition figures poses a grave danger to Nigeria's democratic process and judicial fairness. According to Iyere, the arrest, media profiling, public condemnation, and ongoing prosecution of Chief Nnaji do not represent an authentic crusade against corruption, but rather a coordinated political witch-hunt spearheaded by actors in Enugu State to weaken opposition forces and intimidate Nnaji into withdrawing from the 2027 Enugu State gubernatorial election before key electoral filing deadlines pass.

Defending the former minister's track record, Iyere argued that investigations into Chief Uche Nnaji's financial accounts and personal dealings yield zero evidence of public fund diversion, illicit enrichment, or looting. He emphasized that Nnaji was already an established engineer, contractor, and entrepreneur with extensive business ventures and credited projects long before taking up any federal cabinet position. The coalition maintained that Nnaji was not responsible for paying himself and that the funds transferred into the accounts under scrutiny—including statutory allocations and official entitlements received during his tenure as a sitting minister—remain completely untouched, as Nnaji never drew, spent, or diverted money from the account in question. Iyere challenged the ICPC leadership to produce concrete proof that Nnaji siphoned or mismanaged government funds, asserting that the financial narrative was manufactured to damage his public reputation.

Extending its critique directly to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, the coalition accused his administration of collaborating with anti-graft officials to neutralize prospective political rivals ahead of 2027. Declaring that "the game is up" for both Governor Mbah and the ICPC, Iyere challenged Governor Mbah to publicly account for how state resources belonging to Enugu were allegedly deployed during high-level academic appointments in UNN, specifically referencing the selection process surrounding university leadership figures like Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya. Iyere criticized the systemic process surrounding university appointments, alleging that governors handpick Vice-Chancellors without elections to carry out political assignments during crucial election cycles.

From a legal and constitutional standpoint, the civil society leaders argued that the actions of ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) violate core principles of fair hearing and judicial fairness. By publicly condemning Chief Nnaji and framing the certificate verification dispute before a final judicial verdict, the anti-graft agency breached the sub judice doctrine and infringed upon the constitutional presumption of innocence and right to self-defense. The coalition warned that such actions provoke public outrage. 

Concluding the statement, Iyere urged non-governmental organizations and media platforms to maintain complete financial independence by establishing social enterprises rather than relying on political figures, executive patronage, or legislative capture. He pledged that credible civil society organizations will hold investigative bodies accountable, closely monitor the matter currently in court, and remain involved through every stage of the legal process to ensure public scrutiny helps shape the direction of the trial and guarantees a transparent judgment.