By Onyekachi Eze
Moves to seek for the urgent release of the sum of #1.8bn Imo State fund, seized by the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, during the Rescue Mission administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha in Imo are underway, following the recent steps made by the State Legislature.
The anti graft agency, had during the exit of Rochas Okorocha’s era in the State in 2019, seized about #7.9bn of Imo State money with the Access Bank PLC.
The money was said to be mapped out for the payment of Government Contractors.
However, during the Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha eight months stay as the Governor, part of the money was said to be released to the State for the payment of Salaries and Pensions of Imo workers and Pensions, leaving a balance of #1.8bn, reserved for the payment of the bona-fide Contractors that worked for the State.
Fortunately, the debate was tabled before the House of Assembly, in its plenary session of Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
In a motion moved by the member representing Ideato North State Constituency, Hon. Barr. Innocent Arthur Egwim, the House led by Speaker Chiji Collins resolved to urge the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to appeal to EFCC to completely unfreeze the State Accounts with the Access Bank.
The Resolution also urged the Governor to order for the immediate release of the balance of #1.8bn to enable the State pay the Contractors, to rest the case and also prevent further distractions of the Government over the matter.
In the prayers of the motion, Hon. Egwim said, “Whereas EFCC in its investigations at the terminal end of Rochas Okorocha’s administration in 2019, froze the Imo State Government’s Account with the Access Bank PLC, containing the sum of about #7.9bn;
“Aware that the Commission, at ascendancy of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as the Governor of Imo State, granted approval for the release of part of the money for payment of salaries and pensions of Imo workers and pensioners, leaving a balance of #1.8bn reserved for payment of the bona-fide contractors that worked for the State;
He observed thus, “That those genuine Contractors are yet to be paid their contract fees for which the sum of #1.8bn was reserved, and the Contractors through their umbrella association, United Progressive Imo State Contractors Association (UPICA) have been disturbing and distracting the State Government for non- payment of other deserving Contract fees;
“Believing that Government is a continuum and the State Government is under obligation to settle the Contractors, pursuant to the terms of the contract agreements signed by both parties”.
Hon. Egwim therefore added that in this precarious situation, that money if released would go a long way in offsetting the debts, especially as the said Contractors are not outsiders, but full indigenes of the State.
The Motion was seconded by Hon Johnson Iheonukara Duru, and supported by Hon Chigozie Nwaneri and others.
