PDP accuses Okorocha of wasting N62b loan on phony contracts

[Mirror]

The Imo State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Rochas Okorocha administration of misappropriating a whopping N62 billion in bank loans on phony contracts.

The party claimed that the amount was embezzled through the award of phony contracts to family and cronies of government officials. Briefing reporters in Owerri, the state capital, PDP chairman in the state, Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), alleged that Governor Okorocha in 2011 embezzled N47 billion loan which he collected from a new generation bank. Chief Duruiheoma told journalists that, "The governor unilaterally, without recourse to the House of Assembly, collected the bank loan in 2011 for no reason.

We called in the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) who discovered that the money was collected and diverted." The party chieftain also said that, "While the dust was yet to settle down, he recently armtwisted the LGA Sole Administrators, the Directors of General Services and Treasurers of Local Government Areas into signing another N15 billion naira loan. All these are in exclusion of over N100 billion owed local contractors and the N13.5 billion bond left behind by his predecessor," Duruiheoma said.

The party accused the state government of destroying the economy of the state through rising debt profiles and policies that favour outsiders against the indigenes. The PDP also raised alarm over the demolition of properties perceived to belong to political opponents of Governor Okorocha saying, "these punitive demolitions are without any plans for relocation or compensation to affected persons.

The PDP also has enough evidence of stripping of assets and convention of state properties by government officials while projects initiated by former PDP administrations in the state had been painfully abandoned by Okorocha's administration." The party further flayed the Governor over his recent attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the national leader of the party.