Monarchs, others urge Imo government to hasten Okorocha’s probe, prosecution
Imo Council of Traditional Rulers has urged the state government led by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hasten the probe of contracts awarded and other activities of the immediate past government led by Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, a group of elder statesmen from Imo West (Orlu) Senatorial District under the aegis of Orlu Elders Council called on the governor to ensure a thorough probe of Okorocha and his prosecution, if need be, without delay.
But while Okorocha accused Ihedioha of instigating the monarchs and the Orlu elders to cast aspersion on him, the governor said he was the cause of his predicament.
The Orlu elders led by a professor of Law, Francis Dike (SAN), bared their mind when they presented a three-page report to Imo deputy governor, Gerald Irona. They accused the former governor of incurring garnishee orders as well as “indescribable looting of the treasury.”
Also, they advised the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election, Hope Uzodinma, to withdraw his petition against Ihedioha at the tribunal in the interest of the state.
They urged Ihedioha to obey the judicial pronouncement during Okorocha’s administration and reinstate Eze Cletus Ilomuanya as the chairman of the traditional rulers’ council.
However, the monarchs chaired by Ohiri wondered why Okorocha built police and prisons headquarters, Federal Government projects, with over N11 billion, despite that pensions were left unpaid. They, therefore, asked the federal authorities to reimburse the state on the projects.
Okorocha alleged that Ihedioha was behind actions against him, including his ordeal in the hands of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
His Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, told journalists on Wednesday that the former governor’s name was being used to play politics in the traditional rulers’ council.
Reacting, the Special Assistant to Imo Governor on Research, Ogubundu Nwadike, denied any form of propelled instigation against Okorocha by Ihedioha, insisting that the former governor was the architect of his ordeals.
Meanwhile, the state government is dealing with an internal debt profile of about N100 billion, despite the over N30 billion garnishee judgment and external debts.
But the internally-generated revenue stands at N300 million.
The Commissioner for Finance, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, disclosed yesterday in Owerri that the governor has also signed the Open Government Partnership (OGP) for transparency and accountability of his administration.
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