Group seeks sack of commissioner over alleged involvement in N204m scandal 

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

A Non Governmental Organisation, operating under the aegis of the Cross River Integrity Search-Light For Good Governance, CRISLGG, has petitioned the state governor ,Bassey Otu, over some of the activities of the state commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Oden Ewa.

In a petition made available to the press and signed by CRISLGG, President, Mr. Emmanuel Okoi, the petitioners said there was no moral justification for the administration of Gov. Otu to continue to allow Mr. Oden Ewa to continue carry out official duties after a court found him guilty of sharp practices.

The petitioners said Oden Ewa’s continued prominence is not just an embarrassment, but a test of the governor’s resolve to lead in conscience.

“The problem is not simply that Oden Ewa is being allowed to operate freely despite these concerns rather the deeper tragedy is that the state itself seems to have lost its moral compass. 

“Public officials, by the nature of their positions, are meant to embody the integrity of the government they serve. 

“When someone with a stained record continues to feature in sensitive assignments or ceremonial functions close to the governor, it erodes the credibility of the entire system,” the group stated. 

The petitioners complain that allowing Oden Ewa to continue conducting government affairs also demoralizes those who still try to serve with dignity.

“When honest civil servants and political aides see that reputation no longer matters, what incentive remains to uphold ethical standards? When public office is reduced to a game of survival and proximity to power, corruption becomes normalized,” the group noted.

They lamented that people have begun to question not just his conduct but the system that shields him, saying, “His long trail of controversy is well known.

“The ₦208 million Diamond Bank loan scandal, reports of falsified documents to obtain financing, unresolved debts to contractors and artisans, and stories of business transactions that ended in betrayal and unpaid obligations. These issues are not whispers; they are recorded matters of public interest.

“The choice of Oden Ewa to chair the wedding of Edem Bassey Otu, the governor’s step-son and Special Adviser, has now become a symbol of the growing disconnect between the people and thl being a member of the Cross River State Executive Council after a court has indicted him for N204 million fraud.

“This development, in the eyes of many Cross Riverians, proves that the system has become complicit in shielding Ewa from accountability. They see in the alliance between Ewa and Edem Otu a troubling pattern of power protectionism, where loyalty and political closeness are valued above integrity. 

“Critics insist that such associations send a wrong signal to the public, suggesting that all of Oden Ewa’s questionable activities are being quietly endorsed by the establishment.

“The question many are asking is simple: How can a man enmeshed in multiple financial scandals, alleged fraudulent dealings, and a trail of unpaid debts continue to enjoy the governor’s confidence? 

“How can he be allowed to preside, even ceremonially, over events linked to the governor’s inner circle, events that symbolize honor, trust, and moral uprightness?

“At the heart of this latest controversy is Oden Ewa’s selection as chairman of the wedding ceremony of the Special Adviser in the Governor’s Office, a young man described as a son to the governor.

“The choice has left even loyal supporters of the administration baffled. For a man whose public reputation has been dragged through accusations of financial misconduct, it is the clearest sign yet that moral scrutiny no longer counts in Cross River politics.”

The petitioners further said that, “By allowing Oden Ewa to continue to represent the state at high-profile events, the government indirectly signals that allegations of fraud, dishonesty, and moral corruption no longer matter. 

“It sends a message that political loyalty outweighs character. It tells young people that it is possible to face damning public allegations and still be rewarded with honor and influence.