Following the recovery of some Imo State movable assets hidden in some warehouses in the state, the Emeka Ihedioha administration is poised to sustain the reclamation drive.
Upon his swearing-in in May, the first challenge confronting the governor was how best to go about retrieving the state government property allegedly looted in the last days of his immediate predecessor’s administration.
Ihedioha’s first tour of the government facilities revealed that the looters carefully implemented their plan. Everything from Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to doors, window blinds and kitchenware was removed.
Ihedioha’s government immediately set up a task force headed by Hon. Jasper Ndubuaku to recover the stolen items.
Overwhelming majority of Imo residents were also very concerned about recovering the removed property.
So far, the team has recorded many successes. For instance, in its maiden chat with journalists at the team’s office, Ndubuaku revealed that the task force discovered about 67 vehicles allegedly carted away by the former governor, his immediate family members and workers. He noted with great dismay that his team had made mind-boggling discoveries on how Imo State movable property were stolen. In a release made available to journalists, Ndubuaku accused Okorocha’s driver of going home with a Prado Jeep while his ADC made away with two SUVs of similar brand.
The former governor’s sister Ogechi Ololo who served as Commissioner of the controversial Ministry of Happiness was also said to have got the contract to equip the ministry as well as the Imo International Conference Centre (IICC). Both the ministry and centre were looted, Ndubuaku said.
On the day the governor visited the Government House after his swearing-in, he discovered to his chagrin that the entire complex was empty. Ihedioha discovered that all the fittings like cottons, furniture, air-conditioners, bulbs, and even the generator sets were all gone. The kitchen was not spared as spoons, knives, pots and other utensils were stolen.
With Imolites obviously happy and thankful to Ihedioha for the discoveries, the recovery team’s only desire is to continue the investigation until every stolen property of the state is recovered.
- Livinus is an information officer of the Imo State government
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