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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
A group of Abia State indigenes resident in Borno State has petitioned Gov Alex Otti, the Abia State governor and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegation of mismanagement of funds released to them by their home state as support following the September 2024 devastating flooding.
In the petition titled Public Petition For Disclosure and Accountability of Flood Relief Fund for Abia State Indigenes in Maiduguri, the group claimed officials of the Abia State Community Association in Maiduguri mismanaged fund given by the government as relief to these affected by the 2024 massive flooding.
Spokesman of the group, Mr Ogugua Charles Ibeabuchi, told journalists in Maiduguri yesterday that the fund was sent to the community after the visit of the Abia State officials at the insurance of Gov Alex Otti.
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The petition read in part: “We, the flood victims and aggrieved members of Abia state Community Association, Maiduguri, respectfully write to draw your attention to serious concerns surrounding the relief assistance reportedly released by the Government of Abia state for Abia indigenes.”
He said officials of the association failed to disclose the amount sent to flood affected persons, alleging that the process of disbursement was fraught with anomalies. He said these have degenerated into controversies among the community members in the state.
“Since the announcement of the release of the said assistance, the management and distribution of the funds have generated serious controversy and concern within our community,” he stated.
The group said aside failure of the officials to disclose the amount released by the Abia government, other conflicting issues include failure to present an authentic list of beneficiaries to the community members, alleged hike in the number of victims and exclusion of some victims among others.
It urged Gov Otti and ICPC to investigate the list and criteria used in selecting the beneficiaries of the assistance to unravel the alleged mismanagement.
