Ebonyi state lawmakers suspend Afikpo Chic for six months over "Igboist Mula"

The members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly have suspended controversial lawmaker, Maria Udeh Nwachi, alias Afikpo Chic over a lottery scheme known as "Igboist Mula" which the lawmaker introduced to her Facebook group "Igboist". The house alleged it was unlawful.

Many of the participants also said the scheme was totally fraudulent as most of the alleged winners joined the group few hours before they were announced as eventual winners.

Maria Ude Nwachi reportedly got over 150,000 people participating in the lottery scheme and all paid between 1k, 3k and 5k each.

According to reports, Afikpo Chic told members of the Igboist group that she was going to empower some people, and that over 1000 people were going to get financial empowerment.

Sources claimed at the end of the program, she rewarded only her allies which 98% are mostly girls with part of the proceeds.

Recall that the Ebonyi state lawmakers, about two weeks ago suspended Afikpo Chic for two weeks. She was suspended on the allegation that she took up a photography job resulting to her absence during sittings.

The controversial lawmaker later appeared before the five-man House of Assembly panel, pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.

But when the committee submitted its report on Monday at the plenary, the house extended her suspension to six months.

According to them, "the illegality and criminal nature of the (lottery) scheme destroyed the public confidence in the parliament, thus making the public to generally accuse the House of corruption, inefficiency and incompetence."