AIRS Arrest: Ezenwa, Ofomata Demands Compensation, Sack Of Madubuko Over Executive Lawlessness
Two senior officials, both Chartered Accountants at the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) have demanded unreserved public apology from Dr Christian Madubuko, an Executive Director at the Service for orchestrating their illegal arrest and malicious character assassination against their persons.
Mr Francis Ezenwa, Head, Backaudit Department at the AIRS is demanding the sum of ₦10 million as compensation while Mr Chika Ofomata, the Head of Department in charge of Assessment is demanding an unreserved written apology published in national dailies by Madubuko for character defamation
This was contained in the separate protest letter to the Ag. Chairman/ Chief Executive, AIRS and Anambra Head of Service (HoS)
Recall that the Ezenwa and Ofomata were on July 11 arrested by officers of the DSS and humiliatingly conveyed in a blackmaria based on fictitious petition of alleged l “Economic Sabotage, Insubordination, Diversion Of Government Revenue To Private Pockets by Madubuko.
In a publication circulated via City Post, Madubuko said both professionals whose pictures were also attached, were arrested for complicity in financial irregularities.
But their separate petitions, Ezenwa and Ofomata described the allegations as figment of Madubuko and a mischievous attempt to bring their hard fought and age long reputation to disrepute
They said the action ran afoul of the rules of civil service which provided for internal mechanism for handling issuance of official misconduct but was contrived and executed with the sole aim of embarrassing them and bringing them to disrepute.
Francis said he was surprised that the arrest was premised on a document he signed in September 2022 on behalf of the then Chairman of AIRS, Mr Richard Madiebo who authorised him to do so while he was away which he subsequently ratified when he returned.
He said he was curious when after the conversation, Madubuko said they were under arrest and ordered them to walk to the blackmaria in the company of dome of his touts before they were conveyed to the DSS office.
He said as a HOD, the Chairman/ Chief Executive could direct me to sign legitimate documents on his behalf, and that he had never defrauded nor diverted the revenue of Anambra as Madubuko alleged, to private pockets, alone or in collusion with anyone.
According to Francis, today, at 11:00am, Madubuko sent for me while I was in my office at the Revenue House, to meet him at the Lobby. Upon meeting him, he said “call Ofomata” Ofomata came down and Madubuko handed me a letter signed on behalf of the then-Chairman by me for Unity Bank.
“I sent for both files together with the File Movement Register, the files came and I showed Madubuko by myself diligently all the documentations uptill then-Chairman’s authorization to write a letter to both organisations asking them to make further payments – on – account before we can have a post distrain reconciliation meeting.
“Madubuko took the files and handed them to his fair-skinned assistant (002 AIRS) / Second, as he tags himself 001 AIRS. I told him immediately to sign my file movement register, he visibly became incensed by my audacity he signed and instead of handing the register to my staff, he asked his ‘’002’’ to seize the file movement register as well.
“Madubuko said ‘’I’m sorry, I am placing you under arrest for the letters you signed ‘’ and signaled his ‘’002’’ to collect our phones which he did immediately and escorted us to the awaiting AIRS Blackmaria.
The Black Maria drove us like “thieves (as Madubuko alleged) as I sustained bruises from a fall as a result of the driver’s intentional reckless driving and sudden braking all the way to the DSS State HQ, where we were marshalled into the interrogation office,” he said
Francis prayed to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to investigate Madubuko’s allegations and relieve him of his job if found to be frivolous and save the government for the serial abuse of office, scandals and of sorts of unwholesome practices traceable to him and his team of non-state actors/ touts amongst whom one is nicked “ekwensuAnaku”.
He demanded a disclaimer memo from AIRS or ANSG from the activities of Madubuko with respect to his actions against and an apology on mainstream online and print media to remedy the maliciously-intended reputational damage
“Madubuko should apologise in writing, to the Anambra Civil Service Commission and Head of Service for usurping their powers and treating one of its subjects disrespectfully.
“A monetary compensation of ₦10,000,000 for costs incurred to defend myself to the appropriate authorities, media and all other related circles, cost of medical and psychotherapy.
“I demand a medical examination of Christian Madubuko by a competent Medical practitioner to ascertain his mental/ psychological well being and retrieval of Backduty files for Unity Bank and HPZ ltd, together with the Backduty Department’s file movement register which he seized,” said.
On his part, Ofomata who corroborated Ezenwa’s account on ex chairman’s authorisation to sign the document said Madubuko’s claim that they had waived 70 percent of a company’s tax judgment indebtedness was not through but that they were allowed to continue to operate after paying 30 per cent.
He said the company was sealed in September 2022 over a judgment debt of N145,11 million following an audit on them for the period of 2012 to 2017. The Management of HPZ came on Sept. 21, 2023 to discuss with the Management of AIRS on the settlement of the debt so that their office will be unsealed.
He said the condition given to HPZ Limited as contained in the letter he signed for the Chairman was that upon payment of 30 percent of the total audit/judgment liabilities which was N43,53 million into the State Government’s IGR PayDirect account the organization’s business depot in Anambra be unsealed.
“I signed the letter for the Chairman and he ratified the letter when he returned. To the best of my knowledge, the letter I signed did not in any way state that a waiver of any percentage was granted to HPZ Limited.
“The statements contained in the petition signed by Dr. Madubuko alleging diversion of State Government revenue, economic sabotage and insubordination is baseless, unfounded and a calculated attempt to tarnish my reputation,” he said.
He said Madubuko’s action was a blatant breach of office procedure and gross violation of his fundamental human rights adding that since it happened, his family members, professional colleagues, friends, church members and colleagues in the office had been inaundating him with calls.
According to him, if I did anything wrong in the course of duty in the office, I should be given the opportunity to explain myself. If I am wanted by any Law enforce agent for any reason while in the office, there is also a proper procedure to be followed to be invited to their office.
“In the light of the facts, I humbly ask that you use your good offices to call Dr. Christian Madubuko to order.
“I need an unreserved written apology to me and published in National dailies, from Dr. Christian Madubuko for character defamation as I narrated above,” he said.
