WAR IN IMO: Gov. Uzodinma moves to probe of Ihedioha over N19.63bn L.G fund
While the country is enmeshed in battle against the ravaging Covid – 19, the war of attrition between Hope Uzodinma led government, his campaign structure, Camp Hope and the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has taken another dimension.
The new media for some days has been awash with exchange of tantrums between Peoples Democratic Party led by the Director of New Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu ans the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Nwachukwu Oguwike.
In response, Governor Uzodinma has called for the probe of Ihedioha’s eight month administration.
The probe will center on Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, requesting the recovery of N19.63 billion allegedly siphoned from the State-Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), through the Bureau for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), by the sacked government of Emeka Ihedioha, in seven months in office.
The staggering amount was allegedly siphoned either for spurious and phony projects, projects/contracts not executed, and or through huge cash withdrawals for undisclosed purposes.
At a press conference in Owerri, yesterday, the commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the misappropriated funds was discovered during a routine audit of the accounts and records of JAAC with the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs by the Local Government Auditor General for the fiscal year ended 31/12/2019.
He said government’s action was in line with the NEW IMO Agenda to entrench a resilient and transparent public service and restore financial discipline and rule of law premised on extant laws pertaining to the Custody, Management and Appropriation of Public Funds.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party has picked holes in the allegation as the former Special Adviser, Bureau of local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, describing the said allegation as mere tissue of lies.
He insisted that through Ihedioha’s administration, local government did bot receive up to 60% of the said amount under probe.
He went further to clarify that the government paid the sum of N945 million for procurement of earth moving tractors as 17 of the said tractors had already been delivered.
Mayor Eze’s defence reads thus:
“My name is Mayor Eze, I was the Special Adviser to Governor Emeka Ihedioha on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the short but eventful administration. I have severally seen the above captioned releases making waves in the social media since this morning.
I obviously decided to ignore them because it does not require a response due to the fact that the write up is filled with very obvious lies. I still find it difficult to believe that anyone in government will condensed to such a low to publish such. THE FACT THAT ANY ONE WILL OPENELY STATE THAT AN AMOUNT (N19. 63Billion) THAT WAS OVER 60% OF THE ENTIRE LG ALLOCATION RECIEVED UNDER THE IHEDIOHA ADMINISTRATION WAS STOLEN MAKES THE WHOLE THING A COMIC RELIEF FOR THIS COVIC SIT AT HOME PERIOD.
“However, reading a copy of the Sun Newspaper this morning, I came across same story on page 27. This time, it came with a heading, IMO APPROVES PROBE OF IHEDIOHA OVER N19. 63billion LG FUNDS, without the flesh they gave to its online version.
“Then I decided as the man in charge of the Bureau then to make some facts clear for the reading public to make up their minds by dealing with the online and viral version.
“1, Wall House was paid N945m so far before we left and not N1.215 billion as claimed. He has also delivered seventeen pieces of the Earth moving equipments to the present government of Imo state and they are parked within the Hero’s Square premises.
“2, There was no such thing as Unconscionable mandatory withdrawal of N2.405 billion. From who to who, where and when?
“3, There was nothing like payment of N9. 378 billion to Local government councils for an undisclosed purpose. If such funds were paid into local government councils, that’s a bonus. But who paid that and from where?
“4, Anyama and Co recieved N245m for no disclosed purpose. I do not know who is Anyama and Co and the Bureau did not pay that under my watch.
“5, Compulsory returns on kick backs from local government councils to the BLGCA to the tune of N2. 404 billion. There is absolutely nothing like that.
“6, Payment of N245m to Raphael Anyama and Co (Chartered Accountants) from Rural roads without Payment vouchers. I repeat, I do not know this individual or company and no such money was paid to him when I was in the Bureau as Special Adviser.
“7, Payments made through the banks without Payment vouchers or evidence of expenditure to the tone of N3. 332 billion. Like others above, this is a total fabrication and falsehood.
“8. Curious Phenomenon where N25m was paid twice to the Principal secretary to the Governor as Security vote. Once again, this is laughable, was the money paid cash or through an account? This is a senseless fabrication.
“9. I am yet to see the attached document for other details.”
