…As Imo Govt. Files Criminal Charges Against Contractor
The Owerri Chief Magistrate court presided by Mrs. Victoria Isiguzo has ordered the police to produce Mr. Joseph Dina, the Managing Director J-PROS Int’l Limited to face criminal charges filed against him and his company by Imo state government for fraud and obtaining money from the state government under false pretenses.
The suit as filed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Barr. Soronnadi Njoku on behalf of the state government also seeks to prosecute the contractor for abandoning a major road contract in Owerri capital city after criminally obtaining money in excess of the contract sum.
It will be recalled that the J-PROS boss abandoned the Sam Mbakwe road project awarded to the company after collecting the total contract money valued of N1,150,000,000 and another N200,000,000 overpayment.
Mr. Dina, had in the course of the investigation carried out by Imo State House of Assembly, accused the former Deputy Governor and the then commissioner for Works, Sir Jude Agbaso of demanding and receiving N458M gratification, an allegation he claimed led to the abandonment of the project.
The legislature upon its investigation and in pursuant to its oversight functions as enshrined in the constitution found Agbaso guilty and subsequently impeached him thus becoming the first deputy governor to be impeached since the creation of Imo state.
In anther development, Gov. Owelle Rochas Okorocha has warned contractors handling road projects in the state to expedite action and ensure completion of their jobs to avoid disruption by the rains.
The governor, who handed the warning while inspecting road projects embarked upon by the state government in Okigwe town, however frowned at the delay and poor quality job done by the contractors and reinstated the commitment of the present administration to deal ruthlessly with any contractor that fails to execute his/her job according to the contract terms and specifications.
He further re-affirmed his determination and commitment to ensure uncommon development towards raising the infrastructural status of the state as well as implement for the overall interest of the people the well-articulated programmes and policies of the rescue mission administration.
