The Igbo Community Association (ICA) FCT has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over the alleged insertion of more than ₦700 million into the 2026 budget for the refurbishment and maintenance of churches in his constituency.
The association, which describes itself as the umbrella body representing the Igbo community in the Federal Capital Territory and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) since 1998, said it was “deeply saddened, outraged and disappointed” by the reported budgetary allocation.
In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by its President General, Nze (Engr.) Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, and Secretary General, Mazi Chinwoke Emmanuel Onah, the group described the alleged budget insertion as a misplaced priority at a time when communities in the South-East are grappling with economic hardship, insecurity and inadequate public infrastructure.
According to Ellis-Ezenekwe, the Deputy Speaker’s action falls short of the expectations placed on the highest-ranking elected Igbo official in the Federal Government.
“His actions speak poorly of his office and his leadership, and we, the Igbo people of the FCT, find this development deeply shameful and confusing,” Ellis-Ezenekwe said.
He argued that channeling such a huge sum into the renovation of unnamed churches could not be justified when pressing developmental needs remain unmet across the region.
“At a time when the South-East region, particularly Hon. Kalu’s home state of Abia, is grappling with severe economic hardship, insecurity, and decaying public infrastructure, prioritizing nearly one billion naira for repainting churches is a profound misplacement of public trust,” he added.
The association maintained that critical sectors such as education, healthcare and social welfare deserve greater legislative attention, noting that many schools in Abia State require urgent rehabilitation while teachers, healthcare facilities and vulnerable citizens continue to face significant challenges.
ICA FCT also questioned the rationale behind using public funds for the refurbishment of religious institutions, arguing that Nigeria’s secular status demands that public resources be directed toward projects with broader public benefits.
The group further expressed concern over the transparency of the budgetary provision, raising questions about whether the allocation could serve purposes beyond the stated objective.
As part of its demands, the association urged the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies to immediately investigate the budget insertion and determine whether due process was followed.
The association also called on the Deputy Speaker to refocus his legislative priorities on projects that directly improve the welfare of his constituents and address the region’s developmental challenges.
“The South-East geopolitical zone can no longer afford or accept this type of disconnect and poor representation from its highest-ranking political officers,” the statement concluded.
