Human rights lawyer, activist, and educator, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, has accused the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial Zone, Orji Uzor Kalu, of heckling the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) for kickbacks and jobs.
Odinkalu’s assertions follow a viral video of an exchange between the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC) and the SEDC CEO, Mark Okoye, over appropriated funds to the commission.
The human rights lawyer described the exchange as a media show designed to heckle the SEDC and pressure its chairman to play ball with interested parties in the Senate Committee for the SEDC.
” I am sure OUK organized this as a shakedown for money & jobs from @SEDCgov. said as much when I saw the push to get the invite into the media last Sunday. Some folks wanted me skinned for that,” Odinkalu said
” I can bet bottom dollar this convict wants a share of whatever funds the Commission has received. All this stuff about “how much money do you have” is just to gauge how much he can grab for himself.” He added.
Odinkalu also highlighted the one-sided nature of the exchange. During the exchange, the SEDC chairman was given little room to explain himself at the meeting.
The exchange is the latest episode in a developing story. There has been a total collapse of the relationship between the SEDC and its Senate Committee. The Chairman of the commission, Orji Uzor Kalu, is alleging that the SEDC misappropriated funds. He is calling for a third-party audit of the commission.
These allegations come a few days after the commission concluded its Southeast Venture Capital Program. It provided seed funding to 25 startups worth several thousand dollars. The SEDC is also in the midst of personal projects. This includes the construction of its headquarters in Enugu and the acquisition of a physical space in Abuja.
The SEDC has yet to officially respond to these allegations made against it by the Senate Committee Chairman. The commission remains the youngest development commission in the country following its launch last year.
