By Daniel Kanu
Immediate past provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA), Dr Philips Nto, has protested the seizure of his official vehicle by the state panel on Recovery of Government Property, despite being owed close to N120m.
Dr. Nto, an Associate Professor at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), said by the government’s extant regulations, he was entitled to go with his official vehicle as provost and wondered why the panel did not put that fact into consideration.
He said the panel did not take into consideration the fact that he was owed close to N120m before ordering the recovery of the vehicle.
Nto expressed worries that the panel issued two conflicting orders on the same matter within a space of two days, raising serious suspicion about the action.
He said that much as he was prepared to obey the panel’s order, the haste with which the order was executed left him uncomfortable.
“There was something fishy about the whole drama. An order was issued on Wednesday, giving me one week to return the car, but am surprised that another other was issued today requesting the immediate return of the vehicle “, he said.
According to him, the manner of execution of the recovery order suggests that he is being persecuted because he worked under a PDP governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who gave the necessary approval for his action as governor.
He, therefore, called on Governor Alex Otti to ensure that some people do not use the panel to fight their matter against the good intentions of the government.