How Emeka Ihedioha Misappropriated N78.4b In Seven Months – Arch. Ihezue

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The administration of the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, spent over N78.4 billion in seven months, according to a revelation made by a whistle blower to the Imo State House of Assembly.

The whistle blower, Arch. Obodozie Ihezue, alleged in a petition to the House dated 8th May, 2020, that Emeka Ihedioha misappropriated the funds during his seven months administration.

The House of Assembly learnt in the petition that in the less than eight months, which Ihedioha piloted the affairs of Imo State, huge amounts of money meant for the development of the State could not be accounted for.

According to the petition, the break down of the monies gulped by the past administration included: 2019 fiscal receipts brought forward from Governor Rochas Okorocha’s tenure, which amounted to N48. 5 billion, Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in addition to Special allocations which the whistle blower said was N54.319 billion, excluding N13.04 billion Value Added Tax (VAT) and N14. 385 billion (IGR).

The whistle blower, Ihezue, further alleged that the Paris Club Refunds was about N4. 85 billion while the Joint Allocation Committee (JAAC) funds for 7 months was put at an average of N3. 86 billion per month totalling about N27.02billion.

State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) fund and the Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) he claimed was N17.5 billion and N15 billion respectively. 
Similarly, the petitioner also alleged that Emeka Ihedioha had some choice properties in Abuja, London and around Imo State. 
According to him, Ihedioha owns a 5-Star hotel under construction at No. 4, Chulkee Street, Gazope,  Asokoro, Abuja valued at N10 billion.

He further alleged that the former Governor, Ihedioha, has 10 houses acquired at Achike Udenwa Estate, Imo State, through his front, who he alleged is his cousin, Chikere, valued at N5 billion.

Another multi million Naira mansion at St. John’s Wood  NW8, City of West Minister, London, the whistle blower said was owned by Ihedioha.
Arch. Ihezue alleged that Ihedioha also bought, demolished and rebuilt another property he acquired at Charles Amadi Street, Civic Centre, Owerri, at the sum of N5 billion as well as the ones he bought at his Mbutu village. He urged the Imo State House of Assembly to investigate the whereabouts of these funds as there was nothing on ground to show that “these funds were judiciously expended.”

Contacted,  the Imo State House of Assembly has admitted that it has received a petition from the whistle blower. 
Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins, who admitted the petition is before the House, added that the petition would be looked into when the House resumes sitting.

“We have received it in the Assembly, it has come to my table. We are supposed to have handled it but because of Covid-19, we’re yet to attend to it. I have not presented it to the House but I have seen it. Usually when a petition comes in, we take it to Executive Session,  then the Clerk will list it. So, it is still with me.  Once we resume,  we are going to look into it. It is a serious matter” the Speaker said.