Alleged fraud: Okorocha suspends two perm Secs, six others

For their alleged involvement in fraud, the Imo state Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has approved the ‘indefinite suspension without pay’ of two Permanent Secretaries and six other government officials. Also, the state governments has directed that henceforth, all the heads of the Ministries and Extra Ministerial Departments and Heads of Accounts of all the above, are to be held liable for any financial lapses.

According to a statement in Owerri and signed by the governor’s Principal Secretary, Dr. Paschal Obi, on Monday and made available in the evening of same day, those affected include the Permanent Secretary of the House of Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Egesi Obi; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Tourism, Dr. Jonny Ihebereme (a Medical Doctor); the Director of Accounts, Ministry of Transport and Tourism, Kelvin Nwadike, a Lawyer; and the Director of Accounts, Ministry of Industry and Non Formal Sector, Mr. Nnamdi Agunobi.

Others are Mr. Ernest Anyagwa, Mr. Kenneth Udemba, O.E. Ndukuba and P. U. Nwokeneme, all of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Amaigbo, Nwangele Local Council of Imo State.

According to the statement, the suspended officials had been investigated in the alleged fraud before the action was taken, adding that it was to serve as deterrent to others.

It added that the suspended persons should hand over all government documents and properties to the next senior officers in the various establishments.

In another development, the state governor has approved the dissolution of the elected officials of the Community Government Council in the 637 autonomous communities of the state.

From The Guardian