How James Lalu Embezzled N9.6 Million Belonging To Disabled Persons In Plateau

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Yakubu Busari

Mr. James Lalu who was screened yesterday has been alleged to have embezzled and diverted about N9.6 million belonging to the association of people living with disability in Plateau State.

According to the group they said, the matter on the issue of diversion ofN6.9 million is pending before the honourable court, yet the house put aside their complaints.

The Plateau State Chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, has petitioned the State House of Assembly, asking the assembly not to screen Mr. James Lalu, as Chairman Plateau State Disability Right Commission owing to allegation Of fraud.

In the petition seen by this medium,  Counsel to the association,  M.P Simdun. Lalu is accused  of, “dishonesty, forgery and Impersonation as the Chairman of Plateau State Disability Right Commission since 17/10/2016, before his Nomination.”

The petition read thus; “it is the intention of our client to bring to the knowledge of your good office that one Mr James Lalu a member of Plateau State Chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, who served as Senior Special Assistant to the then governor Jonah Jang for the past eight years on Disability Matters as well as Board of Plateau State Disability Right Commission forged letter head paper of the commission, and wrote a letter which was addressed to Mr. Zulkhairi Bin Zainol Abidin of Malaysia titled: Request for the placement of people with Disability to learn lower limb prosthesis fabrication.”

“While the case instituted by our client is pending in court against James D. Lalu, it was heard over the radio that James D. Lalu, was appointed to serve as the chairman of Plateau State Disability Rights Commission to be screened and confirmed by the Plateau State House of Assembly, which prompted this petition,” the group said.

According to them, they said Lalu is corrupt and should not be given such appointment; “Hon speaker sir, prior to the letter above, it is our client’s complaint that James D Lalu without consultation to our client single handedly gave some names and attended meeting in USA. A letter of our client’s complaint was written to that effect to the President of equal rights for persons with disabilities international among others.”

“It is our client’s complaint that James D. Lalu took advantage of his membership of the former Plateau State Disability Rights Commission and took actions which were not in the interest of our client as well as Plateau State Government as the Executive Chairman of Plateau State Disability Right Commission and gave some names as candidate for training at Malaysia without the consent of our client and Plateau State Government,” the letter stated.

It would be recalled that the Plateau State House of Assembly on Tuesday came to a halt as two factional bodies of persons living with disabilities clashed over the nomination of Lalu David who was screened by the 24 members.

The two factions of the disable persons held the Tuesday sitting to ransom as Anti-James David Lalu and Pro -James David Lalu protested by blocking  the main road demanding the House of Assembly not go on with the screen Lalu for his alleged money laundering.

The anti -James David Lalu berated the Speaker for not listening to their plight inspite of the association raising concern over dubious records of Lalu while leading the association 8 years ago.

The spokesman of the Anti-James Lalu, Mr Joshua Iyenle lamented that the utterances of Hon Peter Azi to support and go ahead with the screening is condemnable because they were crying over the nomination and lopsided plot against their wishes.

“You would recall that, James Lalu was a PDP supporter and he worked for the Late GNS Pwajok in the last 2015 general election”, he noted.

The group warned Governor Simon Bako Lalong  not to go against the wishes of persons with  disable  who have contributed and gave him the highest  support inspite of intimidation and harassment the went through during electioneering campaign .

He cautioned that Lalu was not a member of the association, so he doesn’t deserve to be appointed to serve under the government he worked against them.

“We are calling on Lalong to know that this is a person who was appointed to serve Jang  during his first and second tenure  and government is planning to impose him on us, then we protested by blocking to demand for his removal but our elders intervened, we allowed him.”

Iyenle lamented that throughout the tenure of Lalu the association witnessed one of the worst experience where some of their schools in the state were shutdown indefinitely for poor management and his corrupt policy.

He alleged that money laundering and diversion of 6.9 million naira meant for the association which its matter is pending before the honourable court is yet to be put aside their complaints.

Iyenle stressed with dismay that their letter dated 7th January, 2017 copied to the Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly was dumped by the members who refused to listen to the complaints.

Iyenle pleaded with government that the association is not ready to work with Mr James Lalu as their leader because when Jang appointed him for 8 years the deaf, blind, physically challenged persons suffered untold hardship, we don’t want Lalu, they cried out.

However, he stressed that Lalu used fake letter headed paper to write to a foreign country in Malaysia and Europe demanding training for members that even when he is not a registered member of the association.

He reiterated that the APC change mantra of rescue administration should distance itself from a rejected criminal who is battling with bad record issues.

Addressing the members of the protesters at the assembly, the Speaker Peter Azi said as lawmaker we must be abiding because the matter is in court. Adding  that the lalong government has a listening ear, if you have gone to court let law take its course, the plateau state House of Assembly would have forwarded  their request to the house committee but can’t do it based on the reason that judiciary can handle it, Hon Azi says.

The Pro-Lalu group applauded his nomination as one that is well deserved because he has worked for the progress of the association.

“We have confidence in the leadership of James David Lalu who have sacrificed to see to the development of the persons with disabilities in the state participating in government policies,” he added.

Ayuba  Kadija condemned all the allegation of corruption labeled David Lalu who they said is their great leader as they seek for understanding on the side association members.

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