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Tag: Ebonyi State

  • EFCC begins investigation on alleged N6.7bn misappropriation by Ebonyi govt

    EFCC begins investigation on alleged N6.7bn misappropriation by Ebonyi govt

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations on governor David Umahi-led government over N6.7billion naira belonging to the 13 local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    The anti-graft agency disclosed the development in an acknowledgement letter dated February 11, 2021, signed by the Head, Economic Governance, Adebayo Adeniyi, addressed to the principal partner, Amos Ogbonnaya and Co. Ebekuedike chambers.

    This is in response to a petition it received from G-64 Former Coordinators’ Forum of Ebonyi State, through Amos Ogbonnaya and Co. Ebekuedike chambers.

    This response was followed by a petition written to EFCC by the former 64 Development Centers coordinators alleging that Umahi-led government diverted the Ebonyi local government funds of 6,756,800,000.00 (six billion, seven hundred and fifteen six million, eight hundred thousand).

    The petitions read “The commission is in receipt of your petition on the above subject dated 11th January 2021 and this is to inform you that investigation has commenced.

    “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to inform your clients to release a representative who is conversant with the matter to attend an interview with the undersigned through O/C team 5, Economic Governance section on 25th February 2021 at the EFCC headquarters, plot 301/302 institutions and research districtsJabi, Abuja.”

    Recall that the former aides of the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, under the auspices of G-64 Former Coordinators’ Forum of Ebonyi State, had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over what they described as the alleged “misappropriation of statutory allocations of over N6,756,800,000.00 belonging to the 13 local government councils” by the state government.

    They had in the petition dated January 11, 2021, and signed by their lawyers, Amos Ogbonnaya and Co., Umahi’s former aides claimed they were short-changed by the Governor and called on the anti-graft agency to investigate the shoddy deals, which according to them, had yet to be accounted for.

    They claimed that they were paid a paltry N101,000 monthly instead of the statutory N400,000 alleging that they were compelled to sign off N672m in 2017 from the local government councils’ account to the state government, ostensibly in exchange for three lock-up shops at the Magaret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki.

    The petition read in part, “Our clients were, at various times between 2015 and 2019, appointed coordinators of the 64 development centres in Ebonyi State.

    “While some were relieved of their appointments in 2017, others were relieved in 2019 and 2020.

    “It is our clients’ further instructions that throughout the period they served as coordinators, the affairs of the local government councils, especially as they relate to statutory allocations and all outgoings therefrom, were shrouded in secrecy.

    “For the period under review, the development centres were largely denied their monthly statutory allocations, and as a result, their statutory impresses and allowances appurtenant to their offices as coordinators pursuant to Section 11 of the Ebonyi State Local Government Councils and Development Centres Regulations and Remunerations for Public and Political Office Holders (Amendment Law), 2008 (made pursuant to section 15 of Ebonyi State Local Government Councils and Development Centres (amendment Law) No. 7 of 2007), were denied our clients.”

    The petition added, “By the same law, each development centre coordinator is entitled to a monthly imprest and allowance of N400,000.00 which includes security allowance, car maintenance allowance, office maintenance, imprest, etc.

    “The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, neglected or refused the release of allocations to the development centres from October 2015 to December 2020. As a result, our clients were denied their statutory imprests and allowances.

    ‌“Thus, for a period of about 63 months, from October 2015 to December 2020, our clients were largely denied their statutory remunerations with which to run their offices (including handling all security challenges in their development centres, office and car maintenance) with the paltry monthly salary of N101,000.00, after-tax deductions.”

    But the Ebonyi State Government said the former coordinators, were merely expressing anger because they didn’t make the list of the newly appointed coordinators in the state.

    The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, stated this in a text message to our correspondent on Saturday, adding they had merely resorted to destructive criticism.

    Orji said, “Those allegations are nothing but the figments of the imagination of a group of people who made up their minds to be destructive for not making the list of serving coordinators of development centres.

    “If they have offered their hearts to evil thoughts and plots, we wish them good luck.”

  • Court sacks Ebonyi PDP caretaker committee

    Court sacks Ebonyi PDP caretaker committee

    A Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has sacked the Fred Udogu-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee. The court described the committee as illegal.

    The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the purported committee constituted by the PDP national leadership. It maintained that the dissolution of the state Executive Committee was illegal and cannot stand.

    The order followed a suit by Nnachi Okoro, legal adviser to the Onyekachi Nwebonyi-led PDP executive, which was dissolved in November 2020 after Governor David Umahi defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Okoro argued that his purported removal from office by virtue of the dissolution of the state executive, and without fair hearing, was contrary to the party’s and Nigeria’s constitution.

    Justice Aluko Akintayo ruled that the dissolution was absurd and inconsistent with the party’s and Nigeria’s constitution.

    He noted that the party acted harshly without any evidence of wrong-doing against the plaintiff, adding that Governor Umahi’s defection to the APC was in exercise of his fundamental right of freedom of association, and cannot be a justifiable ground to remove Okoro from office.

    The court maintained that the plaintiff, having been duly elected to serve as PDP legal adviser, had acquired a vested right to occupy the office until his tenure elapsed.

    Consequently, the court declared the PDP action illegal, null, and void, and ordered the party not to recognise any other legal adviser until the expiration of Okoro’s tenure.

    Igbo Michael, who appeared for the defendants’ lawyer, Kenneth Jamanze, said they would meet and decide on the next action.

    Nwebonyi welcomed the judgment, and described it is a victory for democracy.

    But lawyer to the Fred Udeogu-led executive, Mudi Erhenede, said they would appeal the judgment. He added that they would get a stay of execution against the ruling pending the determination of a substantive appeal.

  • Ebonyi gov’t condemns killing of police officers, says it’s an act of terrorism

    Ebonyi gov’t condemns killing of police officers, says it’s an act of terrorism

    The attack on police station which led to the death of three officers has been described aa an act of terrorism by the Ebonyi state government.

    Recall that WITHIN NIGERIA reported that there was fear in Onueke, Ezza south local government area of Ebonyi state as unknown gunmen attacked a police station in the area

    According to reports, two male inspectors and a police woman were killed while the gunmen took away two AK 47 rifles; two other officers also sustained injuries.

    In an interview with NAN on Sunday, the commissioner for internal security, Stanley Emegha condemned the killing and said the state government is investigating the incident.

    “The incident is an act of terrorism and Ebonyi people are not known for terrorism. The act is condemnable and not acceptable to the state government,” Emegha was quoted to have said.

    “We are still waiting for the police to brief us on what happened. We have given the officers 48 hours on that, while investigation is ongoing.”

    Meanwhile, Loveth Odah, the Ebonyi police public relations officer (PPRO), said the force is working towards apprehending the culprits.

    “The corpses have been deposited in the morgue and investigation into the ugly incident is ongoing, and the perpetrators must surely be brought to book,” she said.

    The PPRO also explained that three rooms in the police quarters were part of the properties destroyed at the station during the invasion.

    “Two patrol vans, one exhibit vehicle, and one car belonging to a police officer were also burnt,” Odah added.

  • Gunmen storm police station in Ebonyi, kill 3 officers

    Gunmen storm police station in Ebonyi, kill 3 officers

    There was fear in Onueke, Ezza south local government area of Ebonyi state as unknown gunmen attacked a police station in the area.

    According to reports, the attack took place on Friday, January 7 and two police inspectors and one sergeant were shot dead.

    Two other officers were also said to have sustained bullet wounds during the attack while the gunmen carted away with two AK47.

    The state police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident while stating that the corpses of the victims have been taken to a mortuary, while police officers who were wounded are receiving treatment.

    Odah said that the police has launched a manhunt for the gunmen, while urging members of the public with useful information that could lead to the arrest of gunmen involved.

    The Ebonyi state commissioner of internal security, Stanley Okoroemegha, said the government was saddened by the attack.

  • Desperate politicians are aligning with bandits to destabilize Nigeria, Governor Umahi alleges

    Desperate politicians are aligning with bandits to destabilize Nigeria, Governor Umahi alleges

    David Umahi, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi state has alleged that desperate politicians are aligning with bandits to destabilize the country.

    This allegation was made by the Chairman of South-East Governors Forum during a virtual meeting with the five governors of the region on Tuesday January 5.

    Umahi said;

    “The governors are so worried about the killings and kidnappings that are going on by our people in the southeast, killing our own people and the security agencies. 

    “The situation is being heightened by the activities of very desperate politicians, this time irrespective of party affiliations.

    “There are so many desperate politicians in all the political parties that are so desperate for power and they have aligned with some bandits in the southeast to destabilise the nation.”

    The Ebonyi state Governor added that the five southeast states dissociated themselves from a bi-partisan meeting convened by some stakeholders from the region on the security situation.

    On the viral video in which it was alleged that some Fulani herdsmen were forced out of their settlement in a village in the state he governs, Umahi said;

    “The Fulani settlement that decided to move to Taraba State and retained some of the family members in Ebonyi State and of course, the man is still here.

    “Politicians as we have intelligence gathering went to put a voice and said it is the Igbos that are chasing away the herdsmen from Ebonyi State.

    “Such a video went very wide and was causing panic in other parts of the country. That was very much uncalled for because we also have over 11 million of our people living in the north.

    “We have so many of our people living in south-south and south-west. When people do this, they think they are doing it to pull down a particular governor, not knowing that they are doing it to start killings against our people.”

  • Umahi orders arrest of persons circulating fake video of attack on herders in Ebonyi

    Umahi orders arrest of persons circulating fake video of attack on herders in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi government on Monday ordered the arrest of circulators of a video on social media that Fulani herdsmen were being attacked and chased out of the state.

    Gov. David Umahi said at a news conference in Abakaliki that the video was faked.

    He ordered security agencies to investigate the source of the video and arrest the circulators.

    The governor said the video had caused panic and tension.

    “Security personnel must ensure that those behind the circulation of the video, which has caused panic across the country, are brought to book.

    “We must increase our security surveillance at the grassroots level. I urge the security agencies to step up and arrest persons circulating the video on social media,’’ Umahi said.

    Mr Inusa Sani, Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Ebonyi Chapter, condemned the misleading video, adding that “it is fake news.’’

    “The video is an orchestrated attempt by mischief makers and enemies of peace.

    “What happened was that on Jan. 2, one of us, Alhaji Adamu, residing at Ozibo Village in Nkaleke Ichaba/Enyibishiri community, informed the association of his relocation to Taraba State.

    “I use this opportunity to urge the general public to disregard the video in circulation and no Fulani herdsman was attacked or chased out of Ebonyi State,’’ Sani said.

    He said herdsmen had co-habited peacefully with their host communities without any fear, molestation, threat or intimidation from any quarter.

    The Police Command in Ebonyi had on Sunday issued a statement noting that Fulani herdsmen were not attacked or being chased out of the state.

    Also speaking at the news conference, Mr Philip Maku, Commissioner of Police in the state, assured the public of the Command’s readiness to protect lives and property.

    “The general public should disregard the video in circulation, which is misleading and fake. Keep going about your normal business and support the security agencies and state government at ensuring that those behind the evil plot are fished out,’’ Maku admonished.

    Dr Keneth Igwe, Secretary to the State Government, said the distorted and misleading video was propagated by the enemies of Ebonyi.

    “We cannot keep quiet on any issue that is trying to tarnish the image of our dear state or cause disorder. We have enjoyed maximum peace with our Fulani brothers.

    “The security chiefs are here and there is no incident of an attack on herders in the state; we therefore urge the general public to disregard the misleading video,’’ Igwe said.

  • Ebonyi state government restricts worship centers to two hours as COVID19 cases increase

    Ebonyi state government restricts worship centers to two hours as COVID19 cases increase

    Ebonyi state government has directed that all religious worship centers must be restricted to a maximum period of two hours following the rising number of confirmed COVID19 cases in the state and the nation.

    This directive was announced by the state governor, David Umahi today, December 18.

    He said all large gatherings are also banned in the state.

    The governor also directed the State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, and the State COVID-19 team to ensure massive sensitization and public enlightenment campaign to get the people to embrace the COVID-19 protocols.

    “We must go back to observe all the protocols of COVID-19 enunciated by the Presidential Taskforce. I have directed that Church Services should not last more than 2 hours. I have also directed that we should step up our testing before the end of January.

    We must have to accomplish the target of the Presidential Taskforce by testing at least 450 persons per Local Government. I have suspended large gathering of people in Ebonyi State. We have returned to the wearing of facemasks in all public places and in our homes.

    During this Christmas, I am appealing that we curtail our movements. The initial night of praise will no longer hold in the state, the usual end of year party will not hold rather we are not aggregated so that we have smaller gathering that we can control”, he said

  • Gov Umahi sacks two aides

    Gov Umahi sacks two aides

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Thursday, sacked the coordinators of Ivo and Echiele Development Centres, Okorie Daniel and Fabian Ovoke, respectively.

    This is as the Governor had dissolved members of Commissions and Boards, whose appointments are not tenured by law.

    Recall that the Governor, on Tuesday, also dissolved boards of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, and Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, announced this on the state-owned radio station, the Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, on Thursday.

    Ugbala said, “His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dr David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE, has approved the removal from office of the following Coordinators of Development Centers in Ebonyi State: Okorie Daniel of Ivo D/C; and Fabian Ivoke of Echiele D/C.

    “Consequently, the two former officials are directed to hand over all government property in their possession to the Secretary to the State Government/Coordinating Commissioner before the close of work on Thursday, 26th November, 2020.

    “Please, ensure strict compliance with the directive.”

  • Umahi sacks four aides for ‘dereliction of duty’

    Umahi sacks four aides for ‘dereliction of duty’

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has sacked four of his technical assistants for dereliction of duty.

    The decision was announced via a statement signed by Kenneth Ugbala, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

    The affected officers, according to the statement, include Cletus Ogbonna, John Osi, Tochukwu Ali and Olachi Arua.

    “All affected officers are directed to handover all government property in their possession to the SSG before the close of work on Monday, Nov. 23.

    “The officers are to comply strictly with this directive,” the statement said.

    The governor, who recently defected to the ruling APC had on November 20, sacked categories of aides from Ohaukwu LGA, in order to “ensure greater participation of Ebonyi people in governance”.

    The affected officials included all LGA development centre coordinators, executive assistants, senior technical assistants, technical assistants, liaison officers and management committee members of development centres.

  • Gov Umahi sacks political appointees from Ohaukwu LGA

    Gov Umahi sacks political appointees from Ohaukwu LGA

    The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has sacked political appointees from Ohaukwu local government area of the state.

    Mr Umahi gave the order on Friday in a statement signed and issued to journalists in Abakaliki by the Secretary to the State government, Kenneth Ugbala.

    “In the avowed determination of Ebonyi State Government to allow greater participation of people in governance, Gov. David Umahi has approved the sack of political appointees from Ohaukwu Local Government Area with immediate effect.

    “The office holders include: all the Coordinators, all the Executive Assistants (EAs), all the Senior Technical Assistants (STAs).

    “Others include all the Technical Assistants (TAs), all the Liaison Officers and all the Management Committee Members of Development Centres,” Umahi stated.

    “All the affected officers are directed to handover all the State Government property in their possession to the Secretary to the State Government before the close of work on Monday, Nov. 23,” he directed.