EFCC invites, quizzes Ebonyi Council Chairmen over alleged diversion of N3.5 Bn

Global Patriot Staff April 28, 2017 Lead Story, Local, News Leave a comment 539 Views

From Freedom Ajala, Abakaliki

No fewer than four out of the 13 Chairmen of Local Governments in Ebonyi State were Thursday grilled for several hours by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu zonal office.

The commission is said to be investigating a petition alleging diversion and misappropriation of a total sum of over N3.5 Billion being part of the monthly allocations that accrued to the 13 Local Governments in the State from the central government.

Those invited included; Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Onwe-(Care-Taker Chairman for Onicha LGA), Hon. Solomon Nwafor- newly appointed Care-Taker Chairman for Ishielu LGA, Hon. David Egwu-(newly appointed Care-Taker Chairman for Afikpo North) and another LGA yet to be confirmed as at press time.

Another batch of four is expected to appear in the commission Friday to answer questions relating to the missing funds.

A reliable source in the commission who pleaded strict anonymity said the zonal office had received a petition from a citizen of the State whose identity could not be immediately revealed for strategic security reasons alleging diversion of the State’s LG allocations by the State government through the Joint Accounts Committee, (JAC) office in Abakaliki.

According to the source, “they were received in our office at about a few minutes before mid-day and were ushered straight into the interrogation room where they made some statements regarding a petition against their offices. Some of them claimed they knew nothing about the said funds since they were appointed recently.

“Such persons were allowed to go while the rest were asked to stay back to give us further useful information that could aid our investigation”, the source stated, adding that more are being expected in the commission today(Friday).

Giving a hint on the petition, the source claimed that the petitioner is alleging non-payment of allocations into the various council bank accounts by the JAC totaling over N3.5 Billion naira while the Chairmen are allegedly ‘forced’ to sign as having received and spent the said funds for their various offices.

One of the invited council chairmen, (names withheld) was said to have informed her supporters shortly before their departure to the JAC office in Abakaliki from where they later took off to Enugu that she would be bold to respond to the issues as much as she has knowledge of the issues. The source claimed she had promised to spill the beans on the allegations bordering on the fact that they actually signed but did not receive what is stated in the papers.

The State’s Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Hon. Samuel Okoronkwo who was said to have traveled alongside the Chairmen to the commission’s office when contacted via a telephone interview denied having knowledge of the invitation and insisted that he didn’t know what our reporter was talking about.

“I don’t know you and I have not met you before. I don’t know what you are talking about”, he said adding, “I will ‘reach’ you Sir…”

When our reporter insisted that all he wanted to know was if he was aware of the invitation and whether it has been responded to, Okoronkwo reiterated; “I don’t know what you are talking about. I am not even in my office…” before dropping the call on the reporter.

Efforts to get the official reaction of the Commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren was not successful as at the time of filing this report as he was yet to respond to several calls and sms sent to his phone as at the time of filing this report.