From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has begun moves to recover the state’s looted funds and property by players in the last administration in the state. To this end, the governor has inaugurated a five-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry headed by Justice Ikwuoma Duruoha-Igwe (rtd.).
Inaugurating the panel at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Umuahia, Otti said the essence of setting up the panel was to ensure the recovery of government funds and property that have been taken away.
“Setting up of the panel was necessitated by myriads of complaints from the public about the looting of government property by some individuals. We have been inundated with petitions bordering on lootings of Government property and funds and it would amount to being insensitive to neglect the complaints which is affecting the daily running of government”.
The Governor, while expressing confidence that members of the panel would perform, called on all to support the panel; assuring that he would do the needful to enable them to work accordingly.
The terms of reference of the panel include; “To receive and examine complaints and memoranda from individuals and other entity on the looting or conversion of government property, funds and related matters, and where necessary make recommendations to the government for remedial measures or any other measure as appropriate
“To examine and ascertain whether government’s moveable or immoveable assets and funds have been illegally acquired or occupied or converted to private use, and identify the person who is responsible and further make recommendations for recovering and appropriate sanctions
“To also ascertain the extent of allocations and revocations of lands in Abia State from May 2015 to May 2023 and determine the propriety of such allocation or revocation or otherwise
“Review the award and execution of contracts from May 2015 to May 2023 and ascertain if they were in conformity with the extant laws.
“To investigate any other matter incidental or related to the foregoing terms of reference and make recommendations to the government based on their findings”.
Justice Duruoha-Igwe (rtd.) responding on behalf of other members, pledged they would discharge their duties as quickly as possible to enable Abia State to move ahead.
She said they would not carry on as if they have already targeted and branded anybody as guilty but however made public that they shall lay open their findings and make credible recommendations to the Governor and urged all persons with helpful information, memoranda and petitions to approach the panel so that justice shall prevail in the State.
She thanked the Governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged not to disappoint the people in the execution of their duties.
Other members of the panel are Prof. Ogwo Ekeoma Ogwo, Prof Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, Ugochukwu Okoroafor and Rev Father Alex Okonkwo.