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Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has disclosed that the committees raised to recover all property allegedly looted by former Governor Rochas Okorocha and his aides, have uncovered that the last government carted away 98 vehicles, and not 67.
Okorocha, through his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, had demanded an apology from Ihedioha for accusing him of carting away the vehicles and N50 billion.
But in a statement by Ihedioha’s Special Assistant on Research, Ogu Bundu Nwadike, the governor responded to Okorocha’s demand for apology, saying he (Okorocha) owed Imo people an apology and return of the items and funds he has been accused of looting.
He also said the immediate past governor should account for N50 billion Imo funds allegedly missing during his watch.
“The government of Imo State led by Emeka Ihedioha has since assumption of office on May 29, 2019 been taking inventory and audit of Imo money, materials and land.
“In the process, it was discovered that the former governor, his family members, friends, associates, aides and agents looted 98 official vehicles.
“The audit is ongoing and there is the likelihood of discovering more government vehicles stolen by officials of the immediate past administration is very high,” the statement reads.
Besides, the 27-member House of Assembly has passed a motion urging Ihedioha to increase the security votes of each of the 27 chairmen of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) from N2 million to N3.5 million.
Moving the motion, Deputy Speaker, Okechukwu Onyekanma (PDP Mbaitoli constituency), said the essence of the increase was to enable the council chiefs have sufficient funds to tackle insecurity challenges in their councils.
Speaker of the House, Dr. Chiji Collins, said the motion was adopted and would be sent to the governor, given the majority support it received from members.
Meanwhile, to ensure financial accountability and probity in the management of the state’s resources, Ihedioha has introduced Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the state.
This followed the discovery of about 250 revenue accounts operated by the immediate past administration, for which Ihedioha lamented that the system created financial loopholes and leakages in the state’s financial accounts.
He directed immediate closure of all revenue accounts operated by all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state.
The governor also banned collection of cash for payment for services rendered by government and its agencies and directed that all such payments should be made to the state’s designated bank accounts.
He made this known at the expanded executive meeting with Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) led by Dr. Abraham Nwonkwo at Government House, Owerri.
He directed that henceforth, all payments, including deductions from salaries of civil servants be remitted during payment of salaries to the TSA maintained by the state’s Board of Internal Revenue (BIR).
