A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo has ordered probe into the deployment of funds allocated to 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State from 2019 to 2023.
Justice Bello Kawu issued the order in a ruling in which he also the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to deposit a certified true copy (CTC) of its investigation report or the detailed status of the funds allocated to the LGAs within the four years at the court’s Registry.
Justice Kawu, in a ruling on an ex-parte motion, filed by an activist, Chidiebere Ojukwu, ordered the seizure of international travelling documents of three former officials of the Abia state government.
The three ex-officaiks of the state government are the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the state, Rt. Hon. Prince Christopher Enweremadu, a former Aide to the immediate past Governor of the state, Erondu Uchenna Erondu, and the Permanent Secretary attached to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Abia State, Deaconess Joy Nwanju.
The trio were listed as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants in the substantive suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/4961/2024 filed Ojukwu, who claimed to be a citizen of Abia state and an advocate for transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
The EFCC is listed as the 4th defendant in the suit.
Justice Kawu granted an order abridging time within which the case would be heard, ordered the defendants to produce some documents before the court.
He ordered the defendants to, within 48 hours of the service of the order on them, declare on oath and file with its Registry, list of all the companies they have interest in or occupy the position of a Director, as well as Forms CAC7 & CAC 7A of such companies.
Other documents the court requested for, included; “Memorandum and article of Association of such companies. Evidence of filing Annual Returns with the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Corporate Affairs Commission from 2019 to date.
The judge also ordered them to produce “audited financial statement of such companies from 2019 to date; self-assessment forms filed with the FIRS; individual tax clearance certificate from 2019 to date. And list of bank accounts details of such companies (if any).
They are also produce list of individual bank accounts (both domestic and foreign), and list of moveable and immoveable properties (both developed and undeveloped) within Nigeria and outside Nigeria.”
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The judge directed that the orders should be served on the 1st to 3rd defendants by substituted means, through the Abia state liaison office in Abuja.
Justice Kawu adjourned the matter till December 9.
In the substantive suit, Ojukwu wants the court to, among others order the EFCC) to forthwith prosecute the three ex-officaila of the Abia State Government (listed as the first, second and third defendanta) in relation to the roles each and every one of them played relating to the funds belonging to the 17 Local Governments of Abia State from 29th May, 2019 to 29th May, 2023 [under the Abia State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs].”
Ojukwu stated, in an 18-paragraph affidavit, that the Government of Abia State received over N5billion from the Federation Account and Joint Account Allocation Committee from 2019 to 2023 for the benefit of the 17 LGAs of Abia State.
He added: “During the period between year 2019 and the year 2023, the Government of Abia State through the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABIEC) conducted no election into the Legislative Seats in the Seventeen Local Government Areas of Abia State.
“The Government of Abia State of Nigeria during the period between year 2019 and the year 2023 had no elected Local Government Chairmen in the 17 Local Government Areas but used people called Transition Chairmen unknown to the Nigerian Constitution.
“The three first Defendants presided over the entire funds allocated to the Seventeen (17) Local Government Areas of Abia State under the Abia State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters during the period between year 2019 and the year 2023.”
He further stated that though the EFCC had at the end of the previous Administration in Abia State, invited the 2nd Defendant for questioning over how funds allocated to the LGAs were handled, it never made the outcome of the investigation known.
“The present Government of Abia State has continued –publicly at different fora- to bemoan the mindless mismanagement of the State’s resources by the immediate past administration.
“The present public interest matter is inspired by the need to bring accountability and efficiency in the management of public funds by those who have the rare privilege of public trust placed on them.
“The suit will ensure that the 4th Defendant religiously- and at all times- fulfills its statutory obligations regardless of the standing and or political leaning of anyone having come under suspicion of mismanaging public resources or eroding public trust placed on his shoulders,” Ojukwu said.