Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Tuesday suspended the state coordinator of FADAMA 111, Cletus Nwakpu.
Mr Nwakpu’s suspension was announced during a virtual state executive council meeting presided over by the governor who recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Mr Umahi said the sanction followed a report presented by the state Fiscal Responsibility Commission, which indicted Mr Nwakpu of misappropriation of funds and other acts against his oath of office.
He directed the Secretary to the State government, Kenneth Ugbala, to take over the office in an acting capacity.
He also ordered the state Head of Service, Chamberlain Nwele, to discipline Mr Nwakpu as a civil servant through civil service rules.
The governor further gave the Fiscal Responsibility Commission seven days to recover all the monies from Mr Nwakpu.
He charged the Commission to petition the EFCC to take over the matter; and also prosecute Mr Nwakpu if he fails to remit the embezzled funds within the seven days.
The report which was read at the meeting read: “Dr Cletus Nwakpu, directed the opening of an account with the name of Ebonyi State FADAMA Production Cluster with Polaris Bank PLC, formerly called Skye Bank PLC, and the project account has signatories and which money contributed by the farmers as captured in 2007 FADAMA Projects were deposited contrary to the financial regulation guiding the implementation of FADAMA project.
“That Dr Cletus Nwakpu did not release to the farmers the complete Agricultural inputs which they paid for and has failed to refund the payment so made.
“That Dr Cletus Nwakpu directed some parts of FADAMA office to collect about ninety million naira (#90,000,000) being for the beneficiary contribution levy made by the farmers in cash contrary to the requirement that every beneficiary contributes into individual farmers’ production group account.
“The total sum of twelve million six hundred and ten thousand only (#12,610,000.00), two million six hundred and ten thousand naira only(#2,610,000.00) paid by farmers for advisory services of the 2017 FADAMA Project was not compiled for the designated purpose.
“That the total sum of thirteen million six hundred and fifty thousand naira only(N13,650,000.00) approved by Dr Cletus Nwakpu for the payment to the two resourced persons for capacity building for the farmers was not actually spent for the purpose and there was no capacity building as claimed.
“That the regulation and guideline for the procurement of Agricultural inputs, selection of service provider, particularly for advisory service and capacity building for 2017-2019 FADAMA Project/Program were not compiled by Dr Cletus Nwakpu.
“That the sum of ninety-one thousand naira (N91,000) was paid for one unit of rice machine but was neither supplied nor the amount refunded to the farmers.
READ ALSO: Police arrest Ebonyi NUJ Chairman
“That because of the failure of the said coordinating office to comply with the approval regulation and procedures, one hundred and eighty-two million naira (N182,000,000) being 50% beneficial contribution this year and another 90% International Development Agency(ICA) counterpart fund for the advisory service fee for 2017 was not paid to Ebonyi State Government by International Development Agency Fund.
Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)
“That Dr Cletus Nwakpu initiated the arrest of Mr Anthony Nwankwo, the Project Accountant on the said day that he (Anthony Nwankwo), was invited by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to testify to the matter. This arrest followed an earlier arrest of Mr Cyprian Iziogo, the Project Procurement Officer.”
Briefing journalists after the virtual meeting, the SSG, Mr Ugbala, said the state will commence distribution of Covid-19 Palliatives on Saturday.
He said that the distribution will be at the political ward level under the supervision of stakeholders in the area.
Mr Ugbala said the palliatives were donated by the federal government, NGOs and good-spirited individuals.
WhatsAppFacebookTwitterEmailLinkedInPrintTelegramSkypeMore
Advertisement
PT Mag Campaign AD
All rights reserved. This material and any other material on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from PREMIUM TIMES.
Support PREMIUM TIMES’ journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
DONATE
TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401…
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW! Subscribe to our newsletter
* indicates required
Email Address *
DOWNLOAD THE PREMIUM TIMES MOBILE APP
Now available on
Premium Times Android mobile applicationPremium Times iOS mobile applicationPremium Times blackberry mobile applicationPremium Times windows mobile application
More in South East
Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor [Photo: PUNCH]
Court adjourns suit seeking Uzodinma’s sack
Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu (Photo Credit: Logistics News, MOOV)
Enugu airport reopens August 30 – Minister
A freedom march for Biafra held to mark the anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence in 1967 that sparked a brutal 30-month civil war in Nigeria. [Photo – The COnversation]
We decrypted messages from the Biafran war that have remained secret for 50 years
Hope Uzodinma in, Emeka Ihedioha out in Imo
Aggrieved contractors protest non-payment in Imo
farmers [photocredit: Businessday.ng]
NEMA inaugurates final phase of fertiliser distribution to Anambra flood victims
Heavily Armed Policemen
Police investigate murder of 4-year-old boy allegedly by own father
Top News
World political map [PHOTO CREDIT: World Map]
Population: Nigeria to overtake China, U.S. by 2100 – Study
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA). [Photo credit: Opportunity Desk]
60 million more people went hungry in last six years – UN Report
Heavily Armed Policemen
Police rescue soldiers attacked by Boko Haram, recover 60 rifles, gun truck
Search Our Stories
Advertisement
Coronavirus: Latest Updates
NNPC ad
Mele Kyari
Polaris Bank
Adoke
NDDC
Heritage Advert
netherland biz school Advert
GLO Advert
Advertisement
Zenith Advert
RSS FactChecks
Advertisement
<——- Banner size 300×250——->
LeaksNG Advert
UDEME Advert
Paradise Papers Advert
PEOPLERECENTPOPULAR
Most Discussed
BREAKING: Buhari speaks on Magu’s probe, suspension
comment · 2 days ago
Magu writes Salami panel, speaks on allegations, makes demands
comment · 7 hours ago
Magu: International groups write Buhari, say Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight may suffer setback
comment · 1 day ago
Nigerian Army faces morale crisis as 356 soldiers exit over “loss of interest”
comment · 1 day ago
JUST IN: Osinbajo writes IGP, wants ‘false’ allegations linking him to Magu ‘funds’ investigated
comment · 4 days ago
Health Tracker advert
Advertisement
Download PT Android App
PT Shortcodes
Podcasts
Advertisement
CLASSIFIEDS
Classified Ads
Classifieds Classifieds
Our Digital Network
Election Centre
Human Trafficking Investigation
Centre for Investigative Journalism
National Conference
About Us
Advert Rates
Our Reporters/Writers
Contact Us
Resources
List of Universities in Nigeria
List of Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
Oil & Gas Facts
Projects
AGAHRIN
Parliament Watch
Data & Infographics
All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria.
Discussion about this post