Owerri Whistle blower petitions Imo Assembly, calls for investigation.

The administration of immediate past governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, spent over N78.4 billion in seven months, a whistle blower reveals to the State House of Assembly.

The whistle blower, Arch. Obodozie Ihezue alleged in a petition to the House dated 8th May, 2020 that Ihedioha misappropriated the funds during his seven months administration.

The House learnt in the petition that less than eight months Ihedioha piloted the State, huge amount of money meant for the development of the State could not be accounted for.

According to the petition the broke down of the monies gulped by the past administration include : 2019 fiscal receipts brought forward from governor Rochas Okorocha’s tenure which amounted to N48. 5 billion, Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) In addition to Special allocations which the whistle blower said is N54.319 billion, excluding N13.04 billion Value Added Tax (VAT) and N14. 385 billion (IGR).

The Whistle blower further alleged that the Paris Club Refunds was about N4. 85 billion while the Joint Allocation Committee (JAAC) funds for 7 months was put at an average of N3. 86 billion per month totalling about N27.02billion.

State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) fund and the Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) he claimed was N17.5 billion and N15 billion respectively.

Similarly, the Whistle blower has also alleged that Ihedioha have some choice properties in Abuja, London and in Imo State.

According to him, Ihedioha own a 5 star hotel under construction at 4, Chulkee Street, Gazope, Asokoro, Abuja valued at N10 billion.

He further alleged that the former governor has 10 houses acquired at Achike Udenwa Estate, Imo State through his front who he alleged is his cousin, Chikere valued at N5 billion.

Another multi million mansion at St. John’s Wood NW8, City of West Minister, London the whistle blower said was owned by Ihedioha.

He also alleged Ihedioha also bought, demolished and rebuild another property he acquired at Charles Amadi Street, Civic Centre, Owerri at the sum of N5 billion, as well as the ones he bought at his Mbutu village. He urged the House to investigate the whereabouts of these funds as there was nothing on ground to show that

these funds were judiciously expended.

Contacted, the Imo State House of Assembly has admitted that it has received a petition from the whistle blower.

Speaker of the State assembly, Chiji Collins who admitted the petition is before the house added that the petition would be looked into when the House resumes sitting.

We have received it in the Assembly, it has come to my table. We supposed to have handled it but because of Covid, that’s why. I have not presented it to the House but I have seen it, usually when a petition comes in we take it to executive session, then the Clerk will list it. So, it is still with me, once we resume, we are going to look into it. It is a serious matter.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.