By David Odama
There are strong indications that the Local government Chairmen of the 13 Area Councils of Ebonyi state have gone into hiding after receiving invitation to appear in turns, before officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to answer questions concerning "allegations of monumental corruption, misappropriation and diversion of funds."
The allegations have been levelled against those who have been in charge of grassroots administration in the state, and are said to have been perpetrated by local government chairmen, family members and loyalists of the Governor of the State, Engr. David Umahi.
None of the invitees honoured the EFCC invitation thinking that their tenure would expire in a matter of days. But, to make matters worse, a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, nullified the recent Local Government election in the state. Before the judgment, many people had complained about how the third tier of government was run in the state.
It would be recalled that a letter of invitation dated July 6, 2022, and signed by the Commission’s Director of Operations, ACE I Abdulkarim Chukkol, was extended to all the Executive Chairmen, through the State’s Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), to appear at the anti-graft national headquarters in Abuja on separate dates from July 15, 2022, to August 11, 2022.
"The letters of invitation were officially communicated to the Chairmen through a forwarding letter from the State's Director, Admin and General Services (for the Chairman), Local Government Service Commission, M. N Nwofia".
The Local Government Service Commission in response to the EFCC's letter, urged the Council Chairmen to ensure strict compliance with the directive, the forwarding letter, dated 22 July, 2022 and titled; RE: INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES. The letter reads thus:
“I am directed to refer to the letter with Ref. No. CR: 3000/ABJ/HQ/CMU 1/ST/DU/VOL.4/343 of 6th July, 2022 by EFCC on above subject as attached and to respectfully inform you that your presence is needed at the EFCC Headquarters, 5th Floor, Plot 301/302 Institution and Research District, Jabi, Abuja at 1000 hours. (See attached schedule).
"Please, take note of the urgent nature of the invitation letter and act accordingly for the invitation came to us today being 22nd day of July, 2022 and received by the Local Government Service Commission. Suffice to say that you make frantic efforts to honour the invitation and find attached for your guidance while noting paragraph three for its emphasis,” the forwarding letter from the LGSC concluded.
The anti-graft body’s ‘Letter of Invitation,’ addressed to the Chairman, Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, a copy of which was made available to NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent reads: “This commission is investigating a complaint in which they need to seek certain clarification from your Local Government Chairmen becomes imperative.
"In view of the above, you are kindly requested to inform and release the under listed Local Government Chairmen to report for an interview with the undersigned through the Head, CMU. 1 as scheduled below at EFCC Headquarters, 5th Floor, Plot 301/302 Institutions and Research District, Jabi, Abuja by 1000 hours.
”The letter specified the dates on which each of the Council Chairmen is expected to be quizzed and they are said to have gone to Abuja to say what they know about the issues at stake."
The invitation also stated that the concerned Chairmen “are to come along with Certified True Copies of all documents, approvals and payments made for One Kilometer Road construction in their Local Government Areas in 2019. This request is made pursuant to Section 38 (1) & (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004", the letter stated. NNL.
