FG did not file charges against us – Peace Corps

The Peace Corps of Nigeria has denied the report saying that the federal government filed a 90-count charge against it. In a statement yesterday signed by the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Peace Corps, Millicent Umoru said that the “so called 90-count charges is a rehash of the official transactions of the corps lifted from the bank statements of the organization since it commenced operation”.

Part of the statement reads: “It is interesting to note that a week before the invasion of the Peace Corps office by the security operatives, reliable sources revealed how the plot to invade and arrest the officials of the organization was hatched by some highly-placed individuals, who are desperately trying to scuttle the muchawaited presidential assent to the bill of the corps, which has been passed by the National Assembly.

“In the aforementioned charges, which were filed by the police and not the federal government as erroneously portrayed in the media, the police said that since the corps is not a political party, it was criminal on its part to fly its flag at its office premises. This charge is quite unfortunate in the sense that it is happening in a country where several similar organizations hoist flags at their official premises.”

The corps also said that 87 of the charges had to do with its official monetary transactions since 2002, including payments to contractors for official supplies of office furniture, uniform kits among others.

It also denied the allegation that the organization has been operating a quasimilitary training for its personnel, saying, the corps has never claimed to be or acted like a military organization as its officers do not bear arms; have power of arrest, carry out investigation or prosecution.