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Ebonyi Govt, Former SSG Fight Over Boarded Assets

By Ikenna Onyekwelu
14 February 2015   |   8:42 pm
IMMEDIATE past Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Chief Fidelis Mbam, has denied any wrong doing in the auction of some boarded government assets, saying that he never received a kobo from the auctioned vehicles.    The State Commissioner for Commerce and Industries overseeing the Information Ministry, Dr. Ifeanyi Ikeh, while briefing journalists on the outcome…

IMMEDIATE past Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Chief Fidelis Mbam, has denied any wrong doing in the auction of some boarded government assets, saying that he never received a kobo from the auctioned vehicles.

   The State Commissioner for Commerce and Industries overseeing the Information Ministry, Dr. Ifeanyi Ikeh, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the weekly Executive Council meeting, had disclosed that the former SSG, Chief Mbam, auctioned scrap government assets and assigned most to property to himself and his relations.

     Ikeh added that Exco decided that Mbam should be invited to defend his actions at the next sitting, pointing out that the former SSG is expected to come along with copies of the national newspapers in which the auction was advertised to show that he actually followed due process.

   But stung by the imputation of the Exco decision, the former SSG addressed a press conference during which he enjoined the state government to direct its searchlight on the auctioneers, stressing that his responsibility terminated at setting up the assessment committee and appointment of the auctioneers.

    While declaring his unwillingness to honour the invitation, Chief Mbam said public officers should not be maligned or intimidated for believing in equity and justice.

   “When they do so they are not helping but destroying the credibility and the integrity of the government they are serving; I am not going to join issues with them,” he stated, adding that he was forced to clear his name, which the commissioner tried to tarnish by implying that he was invited to explain the sale of scrap vehicles.  

   Chief Mbam informed that it was an 11 year-old vehicle procured during Governor Sam Egwu’s administration that he bought when he went to commission the auction sale, pointing out that in keeping with the practice all over Nigeria, a boarding committee was set up for the exercise.

    “I will like to say that I have served Chief Executives, including Chief Jim Nwobodo under old Anambra State; Navy Captain Allison Madueke, Col. Robert Akonobi, Col Sule Ahman, Col Herbert Obieze, Dr. Okwy Nwodo, Col. Mike Torey, Navy Capt. Walter Feghabor, Pol Com, Simeon Oduoye, Dr. Sam Egwu and the present government.

    “I have never been so accused publicly of wrong doing without reason.”

   The former Ebonyi SSG, who is also a member of the National Institute, said he appointed two licensed auctioneers Messrs M. N. Nwokporo and CEWOPI Nigeria Limited, recalling that the particular memo on which he acted was approved by the state Exco on June 11, 2014.

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