Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has been petitioned before two anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, for ‘criminal representation, taking and receiving salaries above his employment status and obtaining by false pretence.
A lawyer, Azubuike Ihemeje, filed the petitions following discrepancies in Omokri’s appointment letter and pay slip which he posted on his social media handles.
Recall that a media consultant, Oraye Franklyn, had claimed that Omokri was not an aide to President Jonathan but was a personal staff of the late Oronto Douglas, who was an aide to President Jonathan. He challenged Omokri to publish his letter of Appointment by President Jonathan, appointing him and, to that effect, conferring on him the status of Presidential Aide.
Franklyn added that the unwholesome grandstanding and misrepresentation by Omokri needs to stop as it amounts to fraud.
Taking up the challenge, Omokri posted a redacted appointment letter titled “Appointment as Special Assistant to the President” with a Federal Government employee payment slip that designated his position as Senior Special Assistant to the President.
Ihemeje, in the petitions, said that Omokri, by his admission, was obtaining and receiving salaries from the coffers of the federal government as Senior Special Assistant. In contrast, his only disclosed letter of Appointment bears Special Assistant, thereby showing a clear case of obtaining excess salaries by false pretence.
The petition reads in part: “We write as public interest Solicitors and as true patriotic citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a deep sense of responsibility to promote justice through adherence to regulations, rule of laws of Nigeria, and to protect and promote public interests, Integrity, the safety of citizens of Nigeria and other members of the public.
“It is in light of the above that we very respectfully forward this public interest petition and request your urgent and immediate intervention on the subject under reference as follows:
“That sometime between August 2011 to May 2015, the suspect mentioned above, who operates on various social media platforms with the name; Reno Omokri, by his claims and admissions, worked for the federal republic of Nigeria as Special Assistant to the President.
“That sometimes, on the 15th of September 2022, the suspect voluntarily published his Letter of Appointment and his payment slip as proof of a duly appointed worker in the Federal Government of Nigeria then.
“To Our chagrin and a huge disappointment, we observed some fundamental discrepancies between the suspect’s appointment status and the salary designation at our chagrin, and huge disappointment we observed some fundamental discrepancies between the suspect’s appointment status and the salary designation with which he serially obtained.
“That the suspect, by his admission, was obtaining and receiving salaries from the coffers of the federal government as senior Special Assistant, whereas his only disclosed letter of appointment bears, Special Assistant, thereby showing a clear case of obtaining excess salaries by false pretence.
“That unless the suspect furnishes proof of his subsequent elevation to the status of Senior Special Assistant, we firmly believe that there exist some clear prima facie proofs of a criminal Case of Misrepresentation, Taking And Receiving salaries in Excess and Above Employment Status, And Obtaining Money by falsehoods against the suspect.
“Consequently, Sir, we respectfully request that you deploy your very best forensic investigative team to thoroughly investigate this case to ascertain the criminal breaches thereof and also to ensure that the suspect and any other person(s) involved in this apparent criminality are brought to book under our extant criminal jurisprudence.
“It is our firm belief that your diligent prosecution of this case will serve as a litmus test and deterrent against other perpetrators within Nigerian government employment”.
