A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Mazi Moses Idika has called on security agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Tribunal (ICPC) to immediately invite Commissioners involved in contract racketeering and flagrant violation of Ebonyi State procurement laws for questioning.
In a statement signed by him and made available to journalists, Mazi Idika said that the State Government has not denied the fact that Commissioners and other appointees of the State Government are not involved in contract racketeering which he said is against all known laws of procurement, public decency and ethical conduct of public officials.
He alleged that the State Government has through the backdoor awarded government contracts to government officials and cronies adding that the above scenario is a direct affront on the Ebonyi State Public Procurement and Related Matters Law No. 016 of 2020.
He maintained that the law expressly bars public official from engaging in such procurement processes as it poses serious conflict of interest and predisposes such public officials to engaging corrupt practices.
“The law in Section 68 subsection 1-13 clearly bars public officials including commissioners from such acts. Similar laws applies to cabinet members as well as other government functionaries in all the states of the federation and at the federal level.
“It is also instructive that we remind Ebonyi State Government led by Governor Francis Nwifuru that governance should not be turned to a bazaar to settle political acolytes, family members and cronies. Ebonyi public resources should not be used to build private business empires.
“Recent developments in Ebonyi State has become worrisome to the point that all Ebonyians must now come together to save the state from ruin.
“The revelation from the Government House Abakaliki on Tuesday April 1, 2025 over the purported arrest of six commissioners by Governor Francis Nwifuru is an unfortunate eye-opener on why the state has suddenly regressed into the abyss of stagnation in the last two years.
“On Tuesday April 1, many Ebonyians felt that it was a government sponsored “April Fool” prank when news filtered into town that six commissioners, including, The Commissioner for Health,
Dr. Moses Ekuma (Health), Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Hon. Victor Chukwu (Environment), Engr. Ogbonnaya Igboke (Project Monitoring), Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism) and Mr. Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs).
“Also indicted was Mr. Timothy Nwachi, the Executive Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area who was said to have been suspended.
It is sad to note that the State Government through the Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mr. Donatus Ilang has been speaking from all corners denying the arrest of the Commissioners. Ends.
