Imo: Trouble Looms Over Plans To Probe Ihedioha Over Alleged Stolen N19.63bn LG Funds

By Charles Igbo

The peace of the graveyard in Imo may soon disappear, and erupt into a big clash. Trouble which end not many can predict, looms.

Here is why.

The Imo State Government is set to probe the immediate past Government headed by the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.

The government hinges this move on the recommendation of the State’s Auditor General for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The AG asked the Government to take necessary steps to recover a whopping sum of N19.63billion, allegedly, siphoned from the State/LG Joint Accounts Allocation (JAAC), through the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), during the Ihedioha Administration.

The Administration lasted for only seven months.

Addressing a press conference in Owerri yesterday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba disclosed that the alleged misappropriation was stumbled upon during a routine audit of the accounts and records of JAAC.

Emelumba insisted that the government’s action is premised on its decision to entrench financial discipline and rule of law, based on extant laws which pertain to the custody, management and appropriation of public funds.

One of the burning issues is the disbursement of the sum of  over N1.2 billion to a company, Wall House for the supply of equipment for road construction, apparently at the LGAs.

Even though some of the equipments are there, the government, according to our sources, allege they are way below standard. It is, also, allegef that all formal and informal efforts, to get the company’s boss, Chuka Odom, former Minister of State, FCT, have been ignored by him.

But in a swift response, Ihedioha’s  Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftains Affairs, Mayor Eze, cried foul, and dismissed, even the thought, as a huge joke, saying he found it difficult to believe that such bare- faced lies could see the light of day.

In a statement entitled:

RE: N19. 63 BILLION STOLEN LG FUNDS: IMO GOVERNMENT APPROVES REQUEST BY AUDITOR GENERAL TO RECOVER FUND FROM IHEDIOHA’S ADMINISTRATION, Eze insisted that the allegation of siphoned funds was a figment of somebody’s imagination, emphasizing that it never happened under his watch.

Following, excerpts from Eze’s Press Release where he tried to confront the allegations, and explain how funds were disbursed, especially, to Wall House

“The fact that anyone will openly state that an amount, (N19. 63Billion), which us over  60% of the entire  LG allocation, received under the Ihedioha administration was stolen, makes the whole thing a comic relief for this  COVID-19 sit at home  period.

“As the man in charge of the Bureau then,  I decided to make some facts clear for the reading public to make up their minds.

* “Wall House was paid N945m  before we left, and not N1.215 billion as claimed. He has also delivered seventeen pieces of the Earth moving equipments to the present government of  Imo state and they are parked within the Heroes Square premises.

* “There was no such thing as Unconscionable mandatory withdrawal of N2.405 billion. From who to who, where and when?

*”There was nothing like payment of N9. 378 billion to Local government councils for an undisclosed purpose. If such funds were paid into local government councils, that’s a bonus. But who paid that and from where?

*”Anyama and Co recieved N245m for no disclosed purpose. I do not  know who is Anyama and Co, and the Bureau did not pay that   under my watch.

*”Compulsory returns on kick-backs from local government councils to the BLGCA to the tune of N2. 404 billion: There is absolutely nothing like that.

*”Payment of N245m to Raphael Anyama and Co (Chartered Accountants) from Rural roads without Payment vouchers: I repeat, I do not know this individual or company and no such money was paid to him when I was in the Bureau as Special Adviser.

*”Payments made through the banks without Payment vouchers or evidence of expenditure to the tone of N3. 332 billion: Like others above, this is a total fabrication and falsehood.

*Curious Phenomenon where N25m was paid twice to the Principal Secretary to the Governor as Security vote: Once again, this is laughable. Was the money paid cash or through an account? This is a senseless fabrication.

*”I am yet to see the attached document for other details.”