EBONYI GOVERNOR ORDERS ARREST OF 6 COMMISSIONERS OVER CONTRACT BREACH. (PHOTO).

 

Abakaliki, Ebonyi State - In a shocking move, Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has ordered the arrest of six commissioners and the suspension of the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, over alleged involvement in a breach of contract for the construction of 140 housing units for Izzo and Amaze communities.

The affected commissioners, who were declared wanted by the state government before their arrest, are:

- Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education)

- Victor Chukwu (Environment)

- Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism)

- Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters)

- Moses Ekuma (Health)

- Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring)

According to the Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, Ilang Donatus, the governor took the action due to the slow pace of work on the project, which was intended to be completed in time for his two-year anniversary in office.

"The governor is not happy over the pace of the work, which ought to have been completed," Donatus said. "The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects."

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilisation, Ebonyi Central, Mrs. Maria Okohu, who is a member of the Executive Council Committee, described the non-completion of the projects by the contractors and the failure of some commissioners to supervise them as "an act of sabotage."

The governor has vowed to continue the arrests until all commissioners and contractors involved are brought to book. The Nigeria Police has also issued invitation letters to some of the fleeing commissioners and contractors.