EDITORIAL:

WHY IRS SHOULD PROBE NIDO

For quite a while now officials of the Nigerians In Diaspora Organization (NIDO), a non profit incorporated in America, have been throwing tar and bricks at each other over one alleged fraud or the other. It is either officials led by Mr. Ola Kassim based in Canada, are allegedly grabbing land in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, or collecting complementary tickets from airlines for trips abroad, all under false pretences. Disgruntled members allege that Kassim and his men do all these deals without the full involvement of the whole house.

We have, in the past, tried to give all sides to the brouhaha opportunities to make their case. It is pertinent to state here that in line with our set objectives, pointblanknews.com would always get to the root of any allegations to ensure probity. But in the past week, some officials and top ranking members of the Kassim flank have indulged in name calling, and pettiness. Instead of respond to allegations of lack of transparency, and fraud, they are busy playing the ostrich. This is tragic because some of them parade impressive credentials.

In our last piece on the Abuja land grabbing deal, some members led by Chioma Ikejiani, made some damaging allegations backed with documents. Instead of address the issues raised, characters like Mr. Bolaji Aluko, and Ola Kassim, are calling members of our editorial team names and even went to the ridiculous extent of giving an empty boast that the Editors do not belong in the scheme of things. The scheme of things could not be anything other than a corrupt, fraudulent and secretive scheme meant to fool Nigerians. Aluko even went as low as questioning why we wrote that he is the son of Nigeria's foremost economist, Prof. Sam Aluko. Kassim and his co-travelers like Aluko have not been able to explain why they have refused to make public names of those who benefited from the land deal despite calls from members. Also shrouded in secrecy is the amount collected by these men. Kassim's figures had been contradictory. His tag-team partner, Howard teacher and soon to be grandfather, Bolaji Aluko, is silent on this.

All these characters could offer are name calling and the phrase of the corrupt in Nigeria “ issue has been resolved ". But if it has been resolved why are Ikejiani, and a Nigeria based attorney, Funke Tejuosho still asking questions.

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Kassim, whose role have often reeked of graft, even said all enquiries about the Abuja land scam should be forwarded to the Abuja Geographic information System (AGIS). Ridiculous. He even vowed that no one would get any information from him, unless subpoenaed by the courts. Amazing.

It is against this backdrop that we asking the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to look into the books of the organization called NIDO. Just like all non-profit, they should be asked to account for every cent collected from members, and how much has been spent. As a matter of fact NIDO's books should be taken apart with a tooth comb. The role of characters like Aluko and others should be ascertained

We also call on the authorities in Canada to look into the activities of NIDO officials in that country.

While we give kudos to Nigerians in Diaspora who have expressed opinions on the issue, we call on others (Nigerians living abroad) to take interest.