N106b contract probe: Okorocha Fires Uzodinma, Says "Publish the report that indicted me"
Thompson Nsisongabasi
Oct 07, 2020
A former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has challenged Governor Hope Uzodimma to publishthe report of the Justice Benjamin Iheka-led panel, which indicted him for contract scams.
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Okorocha said he spent the state's funds on a myriad of verifiable projects scattered around the state.
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The erstwhile chairman of the Progressives Governors' Forum added that the Uzodinmma administration had in the past nine months failed acceptance test by Imo people, hence its recourse shadow-chasing.
He was reacting the report of the panel which was submitted to the governor on Monday.
Iheaka had said: "Monumental fraud was orchestrated by the contractors in the period under review, with strong collusion with some civil servants who helped in the fraud, which is evident in over-pricing of the value of the contracts executed.ÔÇØ
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He added that there was a flagrant disregard for due process and the Public Procurement Act, seen in "outrageous contract pricing and shady contract executions as well as payment for non-performing contractsÔÇØ.
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Iheaka also said there was evidence of phony companies that were used to siphon state funds.
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Okorocha said in a statement by his media adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, he was alarmed that Iheka, who is a judge, could go-ahead to submit the report knowing well that a Federal High Court (FHC) had ordered for the maintenance of the status quo.
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He however asked the panel and the state government to publish the final report verbatim.
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The statement reads: ÔÇØFor almost nine months on the seat, the government in Imo State has been struggling for acceptance. In his Independence Day speech the governor said that he inherited a systematic fraudulent system from (Emeka) Ihedioha.
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Two days after, he said that Okorocha should refund N106 billion. Some days ago, it was that Okorocha's appointees joined Uzodimma.
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— Thompson Nsisongabasi