Ekweremadu lauds trial of fake whistleblowers, seeks further probe

• Lagos considers whistleblowing to check building collapse
The Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu has commended the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, for the prosecution of a false whistleblower, Ahmed Echodo.

Echodo was alleged to have conspired with one Maiwada Adamu, now at large, to mislead the police in raiding the deputy senate president’s guesthouse in Abuja on Friday.

Ekweremadu’s reaction followed their arraignment on Tuesday before an Upper Area Court in Gudu, Abuja.

A statement by his Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, said their charge would serve as a lesson to other false whistleblowers and government agencies.

He said: “I want to give the police hierarchy the benefit of the doubt that it did not authorise the impunity, harassment, and witch-hunt that police officers exhibited in my official guest house last Friday.

“I hope the swift arraignment of the alleged whistleblowers would be emulated by other security and anti-corruption agencies to serve as a deterrent to those who intimidate and persecute others to tarnish their image for whatever motives.”

Ekweremadu charged the police to dig deeper into the matter to determine if there were some influential masterminds behind the incident.

“If the attempt on my life on November 17, 2015 was taken seriously by the security agencies, those who desperately seek to destroy me by all means would have been fished out or had a rethink,” he added.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, had explained that nothing incriminating was found in the said raid.

The police accused the fake whistleblowers of “criminal conspiracy and giving false information to mislead public servant, contrary to Section 97 (1) and 140 of the penal Code Law.”

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and the judge, Umar Kagarko, adjourned the matter till June 5, 2017.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government may adopt a whistleblowing approach to check frequent cases of building collapse.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Wasiu Anifowoshe, disclosed this yesterday following the collapse of a building at No 9, Daddy Alaja Street in Idumota, Lagos.

He urged residents to assist government by raising the alarm whenever they notice any illegal development in their locations.

He said: “A distress call to 767 or 117 would have averted the ugly incident,” adding that “the owners took advantage of the long holiday and the hidden location of the building to carry out the unlawful renovation.”