Imo State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has inaugurated three
judicial panels of inquiry to look into all contracts awarded by the Ikedi
Ohakim administration, the local government system, as well as autonomous
communities and traditional rulers.
While the retired Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Paul
Onumajulu, was asked to probe the local government system, Justices Goddy
Anunihu and T. E. C. Chikeka were charged with the responsibility of probing
the autonomous communities and traditional rulers.
Although Okorocha explained that the essence of inaugurating the
commissions was not to witch-hunt anybody in the state but to establish and
bring back the lost glories of the state and traditional institution,
observers, however, insisted that the current development might be connected
with the growing altercation between the governor and loyalists of Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.
Justice Anunihu was asked to identify all contracts awarded by or
on behalf of Imo State government or its parastatals and agencies between May
30, 2007, and May 29, 2011, and ascertain the extent of work done.
The panel is also to ascertain the level of jobs done, detect any
payments in excess of work done, including kick backs in cash or kind given to
or received by individuals or organisations.
Onumajulu’s panel was asked to identify all types of employees in
the local government system, including temporary, casual, permanent staff, the
method of recruitment of staff, staff structure, and staff strength of each
local government in the state.
They are also charged to investigate salary padding, payment of
ghost workers, illegal employment of temporary, casual and permanent staff or
employees, as well as identify persons involved in illegal recruitment, salary
padding, payment made to ghost workers and prescribe appropriate sanctions.
The Justice Chikeka panel was asked to ascertain whether all the
autonomous communities in Imo State were originally qualified to be given
autonomous status, in accordance with the law that was in force when each
autonomous communities was created.
They were also charged to ascertain the level of involvements of
the traditional rulers in acts/misconducts and make recommendations to the
government based on their findings.
Responding on behalf of the chairmen and members of the
commissions, Justice Onumajulu, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to
serve in the commissions and assured that they would do their best to carry out
the assignment.
Tags
Politics
Welcome development, May God protect our governor.
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