Governor Arrests Six Commissioners and Local Government Chairman Over Alleged Contract Breaches
From Our Correspondent
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has arrested six commissioners for their alleged involvement in breaching a contract to construct 140 housing units for the Izzo and Amaze communities.
The arrested commissioners include:
– Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education)
– Victor Chukwu (Environment)
– Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism)
– Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters)
– Moses Ekuma (Health)
– Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring)
Additionally, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, has been suspended.
Reports indicate that these commissioners were declared wanted by the state government prior to their arrest.
Governor Nwifuru, speaking through Ilang Donatus, the Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, stated that the government believes the commissioners and contractors have violated the terms of the contract assigned to them.
According to sources, the affected commissioners and contractors are accused of undermining the governor’s plans to inaugurate the housing units in celebration of his two years in office.
“The governor is disappointed with the slow progress of work that should have been completed by now. As a result, the government has decided to take action against the contractors and commissioners responsible for supervising the projects,” Donatus explained.
“He genuinely cares about the welfare of the community, as shown by his initiative to build these houses for victims of the communal crisis. He is unhappy with the project’s delay and has ordered the arrest of all commissioners responsible for ensuring its swift completion.”
Mrs. Maria Okohu, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Women Mobilization and a member of the Executive Council Committee, stated that the failure to complete the projects by the contractors, along with some commissioners’ lack of adherence to supervision directives from the government, constitutes sabotage.
The governor, through the committee, emphasized that the arrests will continue until all responsible commissioners and contractors are apprehended and held accountable.
Furthermore, it has been reported that the Nigeria Police have issued invitation letters to some of the fleeing commissioners and contractors who were not present during the committee’s visit.
