Obinna Ichita, a member representing the Aba South Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, has formally requested details from the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, regarding the expenditure of the N27.4 billion World Bank loan allocated for road rehabilitation in Aba. In a two-page letter sent through his lawyer, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, Ichita invoked the Freedom of Information Act, demanding immediate accounting details on how the state government disbursed the funds.
The letter, which was made available to our correspondent, states, “We are solicitors to Honourable Obinna Martins Ichita, a principal officer of the Abia State House of Assembly, representing Aba South State Constituency (hereinafter referred to as our client). We write this letter on the firm instructions of our said client to request Your Excellency to furnish us the following information within the deadline set by applicable law: the accounting details of how the Government of Abia State spent the N27.4 billion (or the equivalent sum in dollars) received in full from the World Bank for road construction and erosion control projects in Aba, specifically on Port Harcourt Road, Uratta Road, Obohia Road, Ohanku Road, and Ngwa Road. Additionally, we request the name and business address(es) of the Contractor(s) that executed any of the projects mentioned, along with copies of the contract award documents and the cost of executing each project.”
The letter further reminded the governor of his previous public acknowledgments regarding the receipt of the funds. It noted, “Your Excellency will recall that you had informed the people of Aba via a live radio program on the 29th of May, 2020, that the Government of Abia State had received the said money in full. This was also reported in the National Dailies. On the 7th of March, 2021, during the 2021 Convention and the 20 million Naira Visual Studio Fund launch of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Aba Presbyter at St. Andrews Parish, No.1 Azikiwe Road, Aba, Your Excellency again publicly acknowledged the receipt of the said money in full by Abia State from the World Bank. It is pertinent to state that this request for information is made pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, which requires compliance within strict deadlines. We therefore await Your Excellency’s timely response.”
Later addressing newsmen, Ichita expressed his motivation for demanding accountability regarding the funds. He highlighted that the projects funded by the loan remain in deplorable condition, impacting his constituents directly. Ichita emphasized that public office holders must remember they hold their positions in trust for the people and should not shy away from providing accounts of their stewardship. He also warned that the law would take its full course against the governor should he fail to comply with the requests within the stipulated time.
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