From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
A local government chairman in Ebonyi State, six commissioners and some contractors have been arrested for alleged breach of contract.
The chairman, Timothy Nwachi, Commissioner for Project Monitoring, Felix Igboke, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Omari Omaka (SAN), his Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters counterpart, Uchenna Igwe and commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ifeanyi Ogbuewu.
Others are:Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma and the suspended commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu were arrested for alleged delay in the execution of 140 housing units for Izzo and Amaze communities, Ishielu LGA of the state who were displaced in Ezilo and Ezza Ezilo inter communal clash that claimed many lives.
The government officials and the contractors were arrested by security operatives made up of police and military.
It was gathered that some of them who were not in their offices, were arrested in their houses during a raid by the security operatives.
Those who were not in their houses when the security operatives raided them, were given invitation letters by the police.
The government officials who were supervising the housing project, were reportedly declared wanted by the state government, leading to their arrest.
The officials are members of the State Executive Council Committee on Izzo and Amaze Housing Project set up by the state government to ensure timely completion of the project
The Chairman of the committee and commissioner for Border Peace, Donatus Ilang who disclosed the arrest of the government officials and the contractors in Abakaliki the state capital said Governor Francis Nwifuru was not happy over the slow pace of the work in the project.
“The Government embarked on this arrest because it felt that the contractors have breached the terms and conditions of the Contract.
“The Government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners, who were mandated to supervise those projects. As you can see, our Governor is a man with passionate heart, he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis. He is not happy that the project is delaying and has ordered to arrest all the commissioner who supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing Units.
“The commissioners that were arrested areb: Professor Omari Omaka, Commissioner for Tertiary Education , Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Ifeanyi Ogbuewu.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma. Commissioner for Project Monitoring, Felix Igboke and the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr Timothy Nwachi”, he said
Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO)SP Joshua Ukandu said the command was aware of the arrest of the government officials and the contractors.
He,however, said he was not sure if they were detained.