Imo state government is, at the moment, worried over alleged corrupt practices by chairmen of its local government areas. This situation has led to the state losing about N24 billion from the coffers of the councils.
To tackle the menace, the state Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, said the state would, soon, set up a special court to prosecute suspected corrupt council officials. Also to be tried in the special court are officials of Romix Construction Company who allegedly collected the sum of N2 billion out of N6 billion from the state treasury to execute roads only to run away with the fund.
Addressing a cross section of prominent sons and daughters of Imo state at Year 2009 Stakeholders meeting held in Owerri, the state capital, Governor Ohakim noted that, between 1999 and 2007, the stated amount (N24 billion) was found to have been misappropriated by the council administrators.
According to Ohakim, the court known as 'Recoverable Court for the Local Government Misappropriated public fund’, would be set up in conjunction with Imo State House of Assembly with the knowledge and supervision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Lamenting that in the past one year alone, that is, between 2007 and 2008, about N1.8 billion was embezzled by the council bosses, Ohakim vowed that his government would recover the stolen funds and deploy them towards giving roads in the state a face-lift. Ohakim said about N48.7 million was allegedly discovered by the councils in August 2007 to have been siphoned, while same was uncovered in July 2008 to have been taken away in the councils.
Sadly observing that almost every local government in the state is involved in the bazaar of corruption, the piqued Governor Ohakim reiterated his administration’s resolve not leave any stone unturned to recover the funds.
"No matter whose ox is gored, I must serve Imo people," Ohakim intoned.
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