By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri
Workers in the headquarters of the Imo State Local Government Areas Audit (LOGAUDIT), Owerri have protested the alleged invasion of the office by former Auditor General of the state, Barr. Osita Nwosu.
Nwosu had allegedly attempted to take away some files from his former office on Wednesday while Senator Hope Uzodinma was about to be sworn in as the new Governor following the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Imo governorship election, which sacked former governor, Emeka Ihedioha.
On sighting the former AG clutching some files and attempting to leave the office, workers locked the premises and held him hostage over his refusal to hand over to the new Auditor General after retirement.
Nwosu was locked up for hours until the intervention of some security agencies from the Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who dispossessed him of the files and whisked him away for explanations in the company of the new AG Sir. Dom Edomobi and some of staff.
It was not clear whose interest the former AG represented in respect of the sudden move to escape with official documents from a sensitive office like the Local Government Audit Headquarters.
But there were speculations the attempt was connected with the Supreme Court’s judgment, which sacked the immediate past Governor, Emeka Ihedioha.
According to sources in the office, the intention was to remove all documents related to financial dealings with local governments under investigations before the judgment.
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A staff of the audit, who simply identified himself as Mr. Linus, told newsmen that there was a letter from office of the Head of Service dated 11th and 13th December, 2019 that directed Nwosu to proceed on retirement.
The staff pointed out that from the letter, the former AG had already served for 40 years in the civil service having started work in 1979.
The staff said that since the inception of the LG Audit, no auditor general had retired at 40 years of Service but rather at 35 years as the case may be.
However efforts to speak with Nwosu before the security personnel took him away failed.
He refused to speak to journalists.
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