Group begins investigation on tribunal verdict on Orji

Biola Azeez, Umuahia - 31.03.2008

International Human Rights and AntiCorruption society, a human rights organisation has begun investigations into the February 25 election petition tribunal verdict which nullified the election of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State.

The director-general of the society, Mr. Chidi Udofia, who led a delegation of some members of the organisation to Government House, Umuahia on Friday, after a two-week assessment of the tribunal verdict in the state, said the objective of the society was to protect the rights of every individual in the society.

He said following various petitions the organisation received from indigenes of the state and other Nigerians on the judgement of the election tribunal which nullified Governor Orji’s election, the body deemed it necessary to visit the state and do its own ground work by itself.

Udofia said the team had visited the tribunal and assessed all the documents and evidences tendered in the course of the hearing by the parties involved as well as the judgement that was delivered.

The director general, who said the findings of the society would be made known to the world later, said that the governor had lived above corruption and followed the seven-point agenda of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

He said the organisation observed that the state government has not diverted local government fund and that the fund was used to better the lot of the people in line with transparency deserved.

Also speaking, former governor Theodore Orji, commended the group for the step they had taken, saying it was reassuring to note that people had taken it upon themselves to look into the governorship verdict in the state.

He said that the state has zero-tolerance for corruption among public office holders and also hold rule of law and due process with seriousness.