The Abia State Judiciary Panel on Recovery of Government Properties and Funds has made a significant recovery by reclaiming a Toyota Hummer bus, originally donated to the Abia State College of Education, Technical (ASCETA), Arochukwu, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) project, from the former provost of the school, Philip Nto.
The panel’s decision, championed by Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe, came as a response to the revelation that the former rector lacked approval from the Abia State government or TETFund to utilize the bus for personal purposes.
As a result, the panel has mandated the return of the vehicle to the new provost of ASCETA, Professor Vincent Eze.
Nevertheless, Philip Nto, the immediate past provost, has voiced his objection to the seizure of the official vehicle, asserting his entitlement to use the vehicle in line with existing government regulations. He also highlighted that he is owed 120 million naira and expressed dissatisfaction with the panel’s handling of the situation, citing conflicting orders issued within two days as a cause for suspicion.
Despite his willingness to comply with the panel’s order, Nto emphasized his discomfort with the swiftness of the vehicle’s seizure. He called upon Governor Alex Otti to ensure that the recovery panel remains impartial and is not exploited for personal vendettas.
Nto earnestly expressed his hope that the action against him is not politically motivated due to his previous tenure under the former PDP administration of Okezie Ikpeazu, stating that he had received necessary approvals for his actions.
In addition to the vehicle’s recovery, the panel has taken into account a petition submitted by former staff members of the college who were dismissed during the former management’s tenure.
