Anambra State Government Refutes Bribery Allegations in Contract Allocations, Vows to Prosecute Fake News Peddlers
The Anambra State government has categorically dismissed allegations that its appointees are soliciting bribes for contract allocations, insisting that all contracts are awarded through transparent and lawful processes. The rebuttal follows reports claiming that officials in some local government areas (LGAs) were demanding payments before granting contracts.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, Commissioner for Information Law Mefor described the allegations as “propaganda from the pit of hell,” orchestrated by individuals intent on destabilizing the state’s peace and security. Mefor warned media outlets and the public against spreading unverified information and urged journalists to verify claims before publication.
Citing Nnewi North LGA as an example, Mefor clarified that reports from the Supervisor on Special Duties and Head of Internally Generated Revenue confirmed that all contracts in the area adhered to due process. He explained that a contractor in question paid N100 million as part of the contract’s requirements, an amount intended to demonstrate the contractor’s capacity to deliver. Additionally, Mefor noted that an alleged N40 million in dispute was a refund to a previous contractor who failed to meet the necessary standards, not a bribe.
“The bribery allegation is fake news by malicious elements aimed at threatening the peace of the Anambra people,” Mefor stated. “The government will no longer tolerate this blatant attempt to undermine the peace and security in the state by circulating unverified information.” He warned that perpetrators of fake news would face arrest and “the full wrath of the law.”
Corroborating the commissioner’s stance, Echezona Anazodo, Chairman of Nnewi North LGA, emphasized that only contractors with proven capacity are awarded contracts. “The reason why the state government is delivering the dividends of democracy to Ndi Anambra is because every contractor must deliver within the allocated time,” Anazodo said. “Nnewi North Local Government cannot do otherwise. Only contractors with capacity can get contracts in Nnewi North.”
The Anambra State government’s firm response underscores its commitment to transparency and its resolve to combat misinformation, which it views as a threat to the state’s stability.
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