Despite the recent protest by women and other youth bodies asking anti graft bodies to stay clear from Imo State and stop distracting the government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof Anthony Anwuka and top officials of the state government are still wanted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC.
Owerri, the Imo State Capital for a greater part of last week was shut down following protest by pro-Okorocha women, who took to the streets against alleged intimidation meted to the Governor and his officials by ICPC, EFCC and SSS.
However, ICPC Wednesday reiterated that Prof Anwuka, the Principal Secretary to the State Governor, Dr Paschal Obi, Commissioner for Agriculture and National Resources, that of Works Ministry, the Commissioner for Local Government; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the branch manager of Diamond Bank Plc, Owerri, are on the wanted list since they have all failed to appear before the Commission. The commission said that instead of reporting, the suspects dragged ICPC and its investigators to court, seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human right. The ICPC noted that two cases have been filed against the commission in Imo State and that the cases are domiciled in courts 4 and 6 the State High Court, sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The ICPC also pointed out that the commission does not have the powers to declare someone guilty as it is the sole responsibility of the court. The commission emphasized its readiness to treat invited persons with respect. It also informed the general public that anyone who fails to honour any invitation from the commission will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the law.
According to the anti-graft body, it is only a matter of time before the matter in court will be struck out and the affected persons requested to appear before the commission, as it would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone who refuses to honour its invitation adding that section 25 of the ICPC Act, 2000 covers their operations.
Giving an insight into why the commission is beaming searchlight on Imo and state government officials, ICPC disclosed that it is investigating two petitions dated 17th December 2012 and 26th March 2013 respectively and made available to ICPC said
“The first petition is an allegation of financial impropriety leveled against the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Hon. Jude Agbaso, who was impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly on 13 February, 2013. Preliminary investigations by the operatives of ICPC indicated that the State Government awarded a contract to JPROS International Nigeria Limited for the construction of three roads within Owerri Municipality at a cost of N1.15billion. The sum of N300million was released to the contractor before the regularisation of the said road contracts. Further investigation revealed that the contractor has so far received a total of N1.45 billion. The contractor was alleged to have abandoned the project after executing works valued at slightly over N300 million.
“ICPC findings at the Corporate Affairs Commission shows that based on the records of incorporation Prince Akanno, a government official is linked to JPROS International Nigeria Ltd. Prince Akanno is a serving director of JPROS whose directorship was said to have been registered on the 20 June, 2012. Prince Akanno, is the Special Assistant to the Governor and also Chairman, Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Road Projects in Imo State. In a bid to frustrate further investigation, Prince Akanno instituted a civil suit challenging the authority of the Commission and the Investigation team led by Mr. Chukwura to summon him to clarify issues.
“The second petition was sent to the Commission by the Association for Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Imo State Chapter, alleging misappropriation and diversion of N73billion funds belonging to the 27 local government councils of the State for which three years statutory allocation to the Local Governments were used as collateral”.
The petition further alleged that “the Speaker of the House and his men were beneficiaries of these contracts in order to prevent them from carrying out their oversight functions on the projects. Several letters of invitation were sent to twelve functionaries in the State but only five of them honoured the invitation and they are: the Clerk, Imo State House of Assembly; the Branch Manager of Zenith Bank Plc.; Branch Manager of Guarantee Trust Bank Plc; Accountant-General of the State and Commissioner for Finance”.
