Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has detained six commissioners over their alleged involvement in the breach of a contract for the construction of 140 housing units in Izzo and Amaze communities, Spear News reports.
The arrested officials include Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Victor Chukwu (Environment), Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Moses Ekuma (Health), and Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring).
Additionally, the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, has been suspended.
Sources indicate that prior to their arrest, the implicated commissioners had been declared wanted by the state government.
Governor Nwifuru, addressing journalists in Abakaliki through the Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, Ilang Donatus, asserted that the officials and contractors had violated the stipulated terms and conditions of their government-awarded contract.
Furthermore, Spear News learned that the accused commissioners and contractors allegedly sabotaged Governor Nwifuru’s plans to inaugurate the housing units in commemoration of his second anniversary in office.
“The governor is not happy over the pace of the work which ought to have been completed. The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects.
“As you can see, our governor is a man with a passionate heart, he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis.
“He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered the arrest of all the commissioners who were supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing units,” Donatus said.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilisation, Ebonyi Central, Mrs Maria Okohu who is member of the Executive Council Committee, said that non-completion of the projects by the contractors and the failure of some of the commissioners to strictly supervise them as directed by the government is an act of sabotage.
The governor, through the vommittee, insisted that the arrests will continue until all the commissioners and contractors involved are brought to book and as well do the needful.
It was gathered that the Nigeria Police has equally issued invitation letters to some of the fleeing commissioners and contractors who where not at home at the time the committee visited.
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