Ezekwesili Demands Prosecution of Omojuwa

Obiageli Ezekwesili, The former Minister of Education has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to arrest and prosecute a social media influencer, Japheth Omojuwa, for identity fraud.

She made this known in a letter dated April 14, 2021, and signed by Marshal Abubakar of Falana and Falana Chambers, sent to the office of the IGP.

Recall that the former minister had distanced herself from the company, Alpha Reach Limited, following the controversy over a social media campaign done on behalf of a Venezuelan envoy, Alex Saab.

Omojuwa and some social media influencers were alleged to have been paid to tweet in support of the envoy accused of fraud.

In a letter signed by her lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, on behalf of Falana and Falana Chambers, Ezekwesili had demanded an apology and full disclosure of the records of Alpha Reach.

Countering the former minister’s claim, Omojuwa said he got “full consent” from Ezekwesili before making her a director in his company, Alpha Reach Limited.

However, in the petition to the IGP, Ezekwesili accused Omojuwa of identity fraud, forgery, and fraudulent misrepresentation.

According to her, she was not consulted before being made a director in Alpha Reach, or was she was contacted to produce incorporation documents and information to register the company.

Ezekwesili attached as evidence to the petition, communication between herself and Omojuwa wherein he “informed her that the Alpha Reach Company Limited is his company and that she is not involved in it at all”.

The petition reads: “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 any time whatsoever.

“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.”

“Whilst pledging our cooperation towards the just resolution of the instant matter, our faith in the capacity of the Nigeria Police force under your stellar leadership to cause an immediate, diligent and thorough investigation into this crime, aimed at getting to the root of this case and bringing the suspect to justice is resolute and unshaken.”