GOV OTTI SETS UP ASSETS RECOVERY PANEL

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Abia State Government has set up a Five-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Government Property and Funds.

Inaugurating the panel at the Government House Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti said the essence of the panel was to ensure the recovery of alleged government funds and property taken away.

According to the Governor, since assumption of office a month ago, his administration has been inundated by myriads of complaints bothering on looting of government property.

He pointed out that his administration was experiencing difficulties in accessing government property.

Governor Otti maintained that it would amount to being insensitive to neglect the complaints, which was already affecting the daily running of government.

He further explained that the alleged looted funds and property, if recovered, would contribute more in rebuilding the state for the benefit of all.

Responding, Chairman of the panel, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (rtd.), pledged that they would discharge their duties as quickly as possible to enable Abia State to move ahead.

Other members of the panel are: Prof. Ogwo Ekeoma Ogwo, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor and the Rev. Father Alex Okonkwo.

The panel has about five terms of reference, including to ascertain the extent of allocation and revocation of land in Abia State from May 2015 – May 2023 and to review the award and execution of contracts from May 2015 to May 2023 as well as ascertain if they were in conformity with extant laws.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU