The Chairman of Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties and funds, Justice Florence Doruoha-Igwe Rtd, has issued an order to temporarily unseal the property located at No. 43 Finbars road in Umuahia. The building, which was previously sealed off by the Panel, will be accessible from 19th to 20th February 2024.
During the Panel’s sitting in Umuahia, Justice Doruoha-Igwe Rtd stated that the unsealing of the building is to allow the Abia PDP to retrieve the lease agreement between the party and Mr. Michael Okey Nzeakor and present it before the panel. The Panel has adjourned the matter to 21/2/2024 for indefinite hearing, urging Abia PDP to gather all necessary documents within the given two-day period.
Regarding the alleged involvement of the immediate past Abia State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chidi Onwuchuruba, Justice Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd) ordered the removal of his name from the case after observing that he is unrelated to the transactions between Abia PDP and Mr. Michael Okey Nzeakor.
On 7/2/2024, the Panel had initially ordered the temporary sealing of the Abia State PDP secretariat at No 43 Finbars Road Umuahia. Additionally, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Monica Ironkwe, and the Permanent Secretary of Government House, Mr. Benson Ojekere, appeared before the panel.
During her appearance, Ironkwe, represented by the ministry’s Director of Agriculture, Mr. Obilor Promise, revealed that the Ministry had recovered all farm plantations and other Agriculture sub-stations previously leased out to individuals by the past administration in the State, and subsequently revoked their contracts with the Ministry.
