Some of the reasons behind the recent mass sack of political appointees in the cabinet of Owelle Rochas Okorocha is beginning to emerge as N60m (Sixty Million Naira) fraud rocks one of the Ministries in the state.
In the Ministry of Youths and Sports which oversees, the Heartland Football Club is reported to be one of the conduit pipes through which those at the helm of affairs siphon government’s funds. Latest on the money scam is the sum of N60m said to have been released to the club for the purpose of settling huge debt owed to players and management of the club in form of sign on fees, match bonuses and salary arrears.
The manner which the money was spent is causing ripples in the Ministry of Youths and Sports as top management staff are worried over the disappearance of N10m from the total sum of N60m. The N10m was alleged to have been pocketed by a Commissioner (names withheld) who is no longer incharge of the Ministry of Sports and Heartland FC.
It was further learnt that the apex civil servant in the Ministry is worried over the development and has demanded for the retirement of the money for official record purposes.
Trumpeta learnt that similar mismanagement of Heartland FC funds have been a re-occurring decimal which caused the ill-fated Gabon trip that led to the unceremonious exit of the club from the Confederation CAF Cup some months ago.
Similarly, it was gathered that the Ministry is stinking with fraud as monies meant for the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, from the state coffers are also tampered with by the person incharge of the Ministry.
When Trumpeta put a call to the ousted Commissioner who was incharge before cabinet dissolution, Hon Ken Emelu, he referred our reporter to the club’s Account Officer stating that the fund released by Owelle Okorocha’s government was paid directly to the account number of the club adding that he (the Commissioner) doesn’t handle money.
He further explained that his detractors are only looking for a way to rubbish his name after all he achieved within just two years in office as Commissioner where Heartland FC won five trophies on their way to breaking over 16 years of trophies mediocrity.
Heartland Account officers were not forthcoming on inquiries put across to them as they failed to comment saying they are Civil Servants and not authorized to speak to Press. But a source who declined to put down his name confirmed the development.
