Govt disregard court orders, releases funds to Muslims Board

 

·        We are not aware of court order – Chairman

·        NGO raises alarm over sales of Muslims slots

By Debra Akudo

THE Delta State Government had released funds to the Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board despite the court order stopping further release of funds to the Christian and Muslim Pilgrims welfare Boards pending when it has provided detailed information regarding its comprehensive account of monies so far allotted the boards and criteria for selecting past/potential/prospective pilgrims for sponsorship to Edun Ogheneovo Olukunle Esq.

Judgment Delivered in Suit No. W/437/2013 between Edun Ogheneovo Olukunle Esq, Applicant and the Governor of Delta State, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, and the Attorney-General of Delta State as Respondents, His Lordship Justice G.B. Briki Okolosi declared that the failure of 1^st, 3^rd Respondents to provide the Applicant with the information requested is a breach of the provisions of sections 2,3,4,5 and 6 of the Freedom of lnformation Act 2011.

In conclusion the suit reads in part: In the light of the findings above, I hereby grant the declarations sought in reliefs A,B and F and refuse reliefs G,D,E and H and same are hereby struck out. In refusing relief H, it is hereby directed that all further releases/funding to the 2^nd and 3^rdRespondents (Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board and Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board) are hereby to cease until the order to provide information in relief F is complied within two weeks of this order.”

The chairman of Muslims Pilgrim Welfare Board, Alhaji Yusuf Arighene has denied any knowledge of court order. He made this disclosure in a chat with a group of journalists in his office, Asaba.

“To the best of my knowledge we are not aware of any court order stopping funds releases to our board.” And concluded that all those writing petitions against the board are not sincere because, according to him the board has carried out its duties diligently without fear or favour.

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organization, Divine Will Organization For Peace And Justice has raised an alarm over the sales of Muslims slots to Non-Muslims in this year Hajj 2014 by the Delta State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board.

The chairman of the organization, Alhaji Abdusalam Paxman Ekpuze and

secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Sadiq Alakpa raised the alarm in a letter captioned; Re: Sales of Government Sponsors Slots for Hajj 2014, duly signed by both of them and addressed to the senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Delta State allegedly accused the Delta State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board of selling this year 2014 Hajj slots to Non- Muslims ranging from N720, 000 to N750, 000 per a slot thereby depriving the real Muslims from participating in this year Pilgrim Hajj.

The letter which was made available to Isoko Mirror alleged that the Delta State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board had refused to disclose the details of how the 50 slots of pilgrims for 2014 Hajj was shared and wonder why politicians who are not Muslims benefitted leaving the real beneficiaries. It stressed that senatorial districts, religious organization, Jama’at mosque and religious individuals that duly deserves the slots for their spiritual growth were not given the opportunity for selfish reason.

According to the letter, it pointed out that with the current freedom of information bill, it will be criminal for the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (Hajj Commission) which is believed to be spiritually connected to the most Sacred House on earth, to cheat on the government and people of their States particularly Delta State and charge the Board to make public the list of the 50 slots 2014 Hajj to reveal beneficiaries identities.

Furthermore, the organization strongly believe that some dubious character who have nothing to protect changed their names to Muslims names in order to be appointed into the Delta State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board for material benefit and never to be funded again in the mosque after their appointments. He said.