| 29 March 2018 | Ukorebi Esien
The chairman of The Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons Amnesty Pogramme in Cross River State, Mr. Austine Ibok has informed the general public that his committee does not share money to beneficiaries of the programme.
Mr Ibok who also doubles as the Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State on Inter-party affairs made this state known in a press release made available to TDN.
In his statement, the chairman explained that the project which is being facilitated by UNDPA has never and will never promise any of its beneficiary's cash. Rather the project which is aimed at retrieving light weapons and small arms from none-actors is arranged in such a way that beneficiaries are rather given a sustainable alternative means of livelihood via trainings and start-up kits. The trainings cut across Pipe line welding, Paint production, Agriculture, ICT, hand craft etc while setting up of the business will be done directly by UNDPA.
'It will be worthy to note that when it comes to the release of cash for any project, UNDPA deals directly with vendors not the committee, the committee's job is mainly supervisory'. Mr. Ibok added
According to the statement, the press release was necessitated because of some recent activities by some faceless people who are accusing the committee of embezzling public funds meant for the Project.
The statement advised any member of the public or beneficiaries of the project feel they are been sub changed by the committee in the state, they are at liberty to write to the National committee in care of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement also warned that originators of the baseless accusation to stop their cybercrime activities or face the wrath of the law.
The statement reads in full:
Following recent activities and write ups by some faceless people on the social media regarding the office of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons Amnesty Programme in Cross River State, The committee in its last meeting, carefully examined the issues raised and therefore wishes to make the following clarifications to put the records straight.
1. The Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons Amnesty Pogramme in Cross River State does not in any way belong to Austine Ibok. Rather it is a five man committee with members nominated from Cross River State Government, the DSS, the Nigeria Police Force, Traditional Rulers and Clergy.
2. That Accusing Mr. Austine Ibok of embezzling funds meant for the Project is simply blackmail from politicians who are afraid of the rising profile of Mr Ibok and is tantamount to indicting the DSS, Clergy, Traditional Rulers and both Federal and state Governments who are all partners and committee members in the project.
3. It will be helpful to educate the general public that UNDP who are Facilitators of this project sponsored by European Union through ECOWAS do not deposit money(s) meant for a group of persons into one single account. Participants who were present at the flag off ceremony of the programme in the state, held at Transcop Hotel Calabar sometime last year who cut across traditional rulers from identified warring and violence - prone zones in the state, none - state-actors and some members of the general public who were present at the event can attest to the fact, that they were individually paid directly from UNDP and not by Austine Ibok.
4. For the benefit of doubt, the project as facilitated by UNDPA has never and will never promise any of its beneficiary's cash. Rather the project which is aimed at retrieving light weapons and small arms from none-actors is arranged in such a way that beneficiaries are rather given a sustainable alternative means of livelihood via trainings and start-up kits. The trainings cut across Pipe line welding, Paint production, Agriculture, ICT, hand craft etc while setting up of the business will be done directly by UNDP. It will be worthy to note that when it comes to the release of cash for any project, UNDP deals directly with vendors not the committee, the committee's job is mainly supervisory .
5. Whereas the Project in Cross River State is still at the documentation Stage (gathering and forwarding of names and data of beneficiaries). And that names of over 200 beneficiaries compiled by traditional leaders across the LGA's/villages within the state who are identified as worst hit in terms of war, violence and cult clash/activities was forwarded to UNDP towards the end of last year, while a letter of reminder was also sent to UNDP by the committee in the state on the 6th of March 2018. It is therefore not true to say that Mr. Austine Ibok has embezzled funds meant for the Project.
6. Mr. Fedrick Ampiah who is the African representative of UNDP for the Project has been contacted in this regards and he has asked all those who feel they have been short changed by the committee in the state to address their concerns to 'The Presidential Committee on Small arms and light weapons, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja within the next three weeks or stand the risk of being arrested and charged to court should they fail to write to the committee in Abuja, validating their claims, as through their public writings, they have brought the integrity of EU, ECOWAS and UNDP to public questioning.
7. After a careful intelligence investigation was carried out, it was discovered that Akabom Offiong, the originator of the said March 25th article which indicted the committee of embezzling public Funds meant for the Project, is not only faceless, but a pseudo name used by some dodgy individual. The said 'Facebook Pseudo name' is known for abusing, Insulting and threatening anyone who dares to hold a different opinion from him or his pay master on any matter at all.
8. In line with cyber laws, Akabom Offiong is guilty of cyber bullying and other related cyber crimes. Therefore, arrangements have been concluded to arrest the face behind the mask of Akabom Offiong. For the avoidance of doubt, the trio of Abia Inyang, Wills Ekpenyong and Victor Eyo mentioned by Akabom Offiong in his article of 25th March will be arrested and investigated to produce the faceless Akabom Offiong as they have been identified as cronies of Akabom Offiong.
The public is hereby warned to disregard any information from the said Akabom Offiong and stay clear from him or stand the risk of being associated with his atrocities, as all his digital footprints are being closely monitored via his Facebook and other social media activities.
It is worthy to note that The Cybercrime Act 2015 of Nigeria has the following provisions:
1. The Cybercrime Act 2015 Makes provision for identity theft, with the punishment of imprisonment for a term of not less than 3 years or a fine of not less than N7 million or to both fine and imprisonment. An example of identity fraud would be the individual who impersonated Chief Bola Tinubu on Facebook and was apprehended recently by the police
2. Outlaws Cyber-stalking and Cyber-bullyingand prescribes punishment ranging from a fine of not less than N2 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than 1 year or to both fine and imprisonment, up to a term of not less than 10 years or a fine of not less than N25 million or to both fine and imprisonment; depending on the severity of the offence.
3. The Nigerian Cybercrime Act 2015 prohibits cybersquatting, which is registering or using an Internet domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else, or to profit by selling to its rightful owner. Individuals who engage in this are liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 2 years or a fine of not less than N5 million or to both fine and imprisonment.
Signed
The State technical Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons Pogramme, Cross River State
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