Justice Florence Doruoha-Igwe Rtd, the Chairman of the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties and funds, has directed the unsealing of a property at No. 43 Finbars Road in Umuahia, previously sealed off by the Panel.
The unsealing is scheduled to take place from 19th to 20th February 2024.
During the Panel’s sitting in Umuahia, Justice Duruoha-Igwe Rtd stated that the purpose of unsealing the building is to allow the Abia PDP, the 2nd respondent, to access the facility and present the lease agreement between the party and Mr. Michael Okey Nzeakor before the panel.
The Chairman adjourned the matter to 21/2/2024 for indefinite hearing, advising the Abia PDP to utilize the two-day period to gather all necessary documents, with no further excuses to be entertained.
Regarding the involvement of the immediate past Abia State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chidi Onwuchuruba, Justice Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd) noted that Onwuchuruba is not directly involved in the transactions between Abia PDP and Mr. Michael Okey Nzeakor.
Therefore, the Chairman ordered that Onwuchuruba’s name be removed from the inquiry.
The Panel had previously ordered the temporary sealing of the Abia State PDP secretariat on 7/2/2024.
Additionally, Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Monica Ironkwe, and the Permanent Secretary of Government House, Mr. Benson Ojekere, appeared before the panel. Ironkwe, represented by the Director of Agriculture in the ministry, Mr. Obilor Promise, stated that the Ministry under her leadership had recovered all farm plantations and other agriculture sub-stations allegedly leased out to individuals by the past administration in the State and had revoked their contracts with the Ministry.
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