Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, yesterday, ordered the arrest of six commissioners and the Chairman of Afikpo North Council for their involvement in the breach of contract terms regarding the building of 140 housing units of Izzo and Amaze communities in Ishelu Local Council.
The arrested commissioners are Prof. Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Victor Chukwu (Environment) and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbuewu.
Others are the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe, the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, the Commissioner for Project Monitoring, Felix Igboke, and the Chairman of Afikpo Local Council, Mr Timothy Nwachi.
It was gathered that the affected commissioners, before their arrest, were declared wanted by the state government.It was further gathered that the commissioners and the contractors are allegedly sabotaging the efforts and plan of Governor Francis Nwifuru to commission the 140 housing units for Izzo and Amaze communities to mark his second anniversary in the state.
Speaking on the arrest, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilisations, Ebonyi Central, Mrs Maria Okohu, said that the non-completion of those projects by the contractor and the failure of some of the commissioners to supervise them as directed by the state government strictly is an act of sabotage.
The governor, through the committee, insisted that the arrest continue until all the commissioners and contractors involved are brought to book. It was gathered that the Nigeria Police had equally issued invitation letters to some of the fleeing commissioners and contractors who were not at home at the time of the committee’s visit.
