Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has written a petition containing evidence against blogger and social media influencer, Japheth Omojuwa to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, demanding the prosecution of the blogger for alleged fraud.
The petition titled, ‘Petition Against Mr Japheth Omojuwa for Forgery, Fraudulent Misrepresentation and Fraudulent Use of the Name, Identity and Particulars of Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili as a Director of Alpha Reach Limited RC No: 1066507’ was dated April 14, 2021, but received at the Force Headquarters on April 15.
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Ezekwesili in the petition signed by Marshal Abubakar of Falana and Falana chambers, said Omojuwa fraudulently listed her name as a director in his firm, Alpha Reach Company Limited without her permission.
The former minister added that she only got to know of the infraction when she was contacted by American news outlet, Buzzfeed, over a story on Alpha Reach.
According to her, Buzzfeed had reported that Alpha Reach ran a social media campaign for the release of an alleged fraudster, Alex Saab, who is wanted in the United States. The news medium further reported that Ezekwesili’s name was listed as a director in company documents filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Ezekwesili, who was a co-founder of Transparency International contacted Omojuwa after learning of the development, wherein the social media influencer allegedly stated that he never listed her as a director in the company.
Meanwhile, Omojuwa had in an open letter addressed to Ezekwesili on Tuesday stated he obtained the former minister’s permission before listing her as a director.
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The petition read in part, “It is our brief that our client promptly contacted Japheth Omojuwa to confirm whether he forged her signature and other incorporation documents and processes but he informed her that the Alpha Reach Company Limited is his company and that she is not involved in it at all.
“Please find attached the referenced communication between our client and Mr. Japheth Omojuwa.”
According to Ezekwesili, she had earlier requested for the incorporation documents from Omojuwa, which he promised to make available to her within the week but he never did.
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The petition read further, “Japheth Omojuwa never sought for her consent and /or participation in incorporating any company whatsoever and for any purpose whatsoever. The said Japheth Omojuwa neither sought for nor obtained requisite incorporation documents and information the CAC would require in processing the registration i.e the particulars of directors, share numbers, signature of directors, means of identification of directors and address etc.
“Our client reiterates for emphasis that she never filled or signed the statutory consent of first directors of Alpha Reach Company Limited in 2012 and or at anytime whatsoever.”
Ezekwesili informed the IG that throughout the time she was fraudulently listed as a director in the company, there were no notice of meetings, annual returns, accounts or board resolutions issued to her.
The former minister revealed that her name was eventually removed in 2017, adding that no special notice of proposed removal was also issued or served on her.
According to the petition, “We submit that the foregoing infractions amount to forgery, fraudulent misrepresentation and egregious breach of extant provisions of the Penal Code Law, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and the Companies and Allied Matters Act deserving of investigation and prosecution.”
Omojuwa on Tuesday, had in an open letter claimed he duly obtained Ezekwesili’s permission before making her a director, adding that Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, was also a director at the firm.
© ControlTV 2021.
