Okorocha Set Up Probe Panels To Expose Ohakim

Ex Gov Ohakim

The arrest and subsequent release of Imo State Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor and the Accountant General by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has sparked off retaliatory measures from the Rochas Okorocha Administration against perceived political opponents.

 In what appears a fresh move to exhibit its retaliation, the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has quickly inaugurated three judicial panels of inquiry to look into all contracts awarded by the Ikedi Ohakim administration. The panels will look into the local government system, as well as autonomous communities and traditional rulers respectively

A  retired Chief Judge of the State, Justice Paul Onumajulu, will  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 restore the lost glories of the state and traditional institution in the State, political pundits argue that the timing of setting up the panel is geared towards retaliating against the past administration and some key chieftains of the PDP who have been involved in a cold political war   

 This Blog  learnt that Justice Anunihu’s panel will probe 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 will also 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 organizations.

Onumajulu’s panel was told 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.