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A group known as IMO COALITION FOR JUSTICES, PEACE & TRUE DEMOCRACY, through its secretary Ahumareze ikechukwu, has called out the former governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha. In a press release made available to newsmen in Owerri said that the former governor can't run aware from justice.
The release reads in part "It is has come to our attention the attitude of EMEKA IHEDIOHA in trying to delay and deny justice against the probe of his illegitimate administration of 8 months."
"It will be recalled that the Imo state government had approved the request of the Auditor General for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, to take all necessary steps to recover the sum of N19.63Billion siphoned from the State-Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), through the Bureau for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA), by the sacked government of Emeka Ihedioha, in just 8 months in office."
Continuing the release stressed that "The staggering amount was siphoned for undisclosed purposes.”The State commissioner for Information and Strategy, stated the N19.63Billion misappropriated Funds was discovered during a routine Audit of the Accounts and Records of JAAC with the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs by the Local Government Auditor General for the fiscal year ended 31/12/2019."
The Government’s action the group said was in line with the NEW IMO Agenda to entrench a resilient and transparent Public Service and restore financial discipline and Rule of law premised on extant laws pertaining to the Custody, Management and Appropriation of Public Funds.
"J.A.A.C. was set up by law and disbursements of L.G.As Funds is guided by Model Financial Memorandum and other extant laws on custody, and management and audit of the said entity."
The group however regrets that the money was illegally withdrawn from J.A.A.C. account without any Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U) or Stores Receipt Vouchers (S.R.V.) or Stores Issue Vouchers (S.I.V.) in accordance with extant laws.
"We hold that Some of the agents used by Ihedioha’s government to siphon the billions of Naira include; The Managing Director of Wall House Ltd., a crony of the sacked governor, who was paid N1.215 billion for supply of construction equipment without any document, which he didn’t supply."
"There was also an unconscionable mandatory withdrawal of N2.405 Billion by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA)."
"Other payment of N9.378Billion to Local Government councils for an undisclosed purpose. Also Mr Anyama and co. received N245 Million for no disclosed purpose."
"We uncovered also Other fictitious and fraudulent withdrawals which include compulsory returns or kick- backs from Local Government Councils to the BLGCA to the tune of N2.404Billion. This was deducted from the allocated funds of the L.G.A.’s."
The payment of N245Million to Raphael Anyama & Co. (Chartered Accountants) from Rural Roads Account without payment vouchers or approvals needs to be investigated the group said.
"Payments made through the banks without payment vouchers or evidence of expenditure to the tune of N3.332Billion."
"Most Curious phenomenon was where N25Million was paid twice to the Principal Secretary to the governor in December 2019 as security vote."
The group asked Emeka IHEDIOHA to focus on how to face the dance of the law .
"We recall that his administration first started with the construction of 27 LGAs Stadia which gulped billions of naira only to lay their foundations and nothing else was heard about it. It is interesting to note with dismay that his immediate predecessor littered the state with 27 non functional general hospitals in the state, it became obvious that Emeka Ihedioha is no different when it comes to public funds."
"This same Emeka Ihedioha has been indicted by the state government over the missing N19.63bn of LG funds which he cannot account for and has since approached the court with fictitious claims."
"We are equally aware of his purported percentage share every month from LG accounts, the money he took to procure construction equipments for every LG which he didn’t buy till he left office, the bullet proof car he bought with state funds and converted to personal use amongst many other things."
Nobody is above the law the group said, and Emeka Ihedioha should not be treated as a sacred cow over his criminal acts and looting of the state treasury. A man who openly disparaged the highest court in the country over his illegal stay as the Governor of Imo State has no business calling on the court to squash his criminal indictments.
They therefore called on the state government not to be cowed by the antics of Emeka Ihedioaha and as a matter of urgency collaborate with security agencies to immediately arrest him anywhere he is found and prosecute him as well as ensure that all he stole from the state is well accounted for and gotten back.