By Okey Alozie
A fraud of about Five Billion Naira (N5B) is said to have been unveiled at the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB) following investigation into the past dealings in the Board by the past Management.
Information available to Trumpeta indicate that the N5B meant for construction and rehabilitation of Primary Schools in the three Hundred and Five (305) Political Wards in the State is said to have ended up in private pockets as no school buildings were erected, except about Ninety(90) that have remained uncompleted till date.
Trumpeta source said that the deal took place during the regime of Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
This Newspaper learnt that the said contracts for the said school buildings were awarded around 2011-2012. It was said that the quoted price for each block of primary school in the 305 Wards was Fourty Million (N40M).
Investigations unveiled that those given the projects were Lawmakers in the Imo House of Assembly, some former commissioners and other appointees of the last administration who simply pocketed the monies and moved on without doing any job.
Trumpeta was told that the entire funds were paid into the Account of a Lawmaker from Obowo constituency through a former Commissioner of Finance.
This Newspaper was told that it was the Lawmaker who through his Bank (names withheld) routed the funds to the various “contractors” who turned out to be Lawmakers and former Appointees.
Meanwhile, following petitions to EFCC over the matter, the Financial Crime Body is said to have swung into action and have started digging into the matter by quizzing some officials of IMSUBEB who may have any dealings with the “contracts”.
Trumpeta learnt that EFCC have taken a list of the schools said to have been rehabilitated or constructed, and will soon invite the Chief culprits for questioning.
