Former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has asked an Owerri High Court to stop the House of Assembly from probing him for allegedly mismanaging N19.63billion council funds.

The state Auditor-General for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs had issued an interim audit report detailing how N19.63b fraudulently disappeared from the Local Government accounts between May and December 31, 2019.

Apparently worried that the House of Assembly may investigate the allegation, the former governor applied for a perpetual injunction restraining it from investigating him.

In a suit filed on May 5 at the Owerri Judicial Division, the former governor, through an origination summons, is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the House of Assembly from inviting him for an investigation into the alleged missing funds.

Imo State House of Assembly, the Speaker and the Clerk of the Assembly are the defendants.

The suit also asking for an order to set aside any summon or invitation to Ihedioha by the House or its agents to appear before it for an investigation on the funds

Two days after the origination summons was filed, Ihedioha’s counsel, S.A Anyalewechi, dispatched a letter to the Speaker asking him to restrain the House and its agents from inviting his client for an investigation.

But, legal experts are of the view that by constitutional provisions and Supreme Court pronouncements, no court can restrain a House of Assembly from discharging its legislative duties.

The Assembly is expected to respond to the suit ahead of hearing.

Imo State government had on April 14 approved a request by the Auditor-General for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs to recover N19.63billion allegedly misappropriated by the Ihedioha administration.

The money was allegedly taken from the State-Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) through the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA).

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said in a statement that the sum was discovered during a routine audit of the accounts and records of JAAC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

He said the government’s action was in line with the New Imo Agenda of transparency in public service and financial discipline.

According to the Commissioner, the money was illegally withdrawn from JAAC account without any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Stores Receipt Vouchers (SRV) or Stores Issue Vouchers (SIV).

He alleged that the Ihedioha administration paid a “crony” N1.215 billion for unsupplied construction equipment without any document.

“There was also an unconscionable mandatory withdrawal of N2.405illion by the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (BLGCA).

“Others are payment of N9.378billion to Local Government councils for an undisclosed purpose.”

Emelumba said a firm received N245 million for no disclosed purpose.

“Other fictitious and fraudulent withdrawals include compulsory returns or kickbacks from Local Government Councils to the BLGCA to the tune of N2.404billion.

“This was deducted from the allocated funds of the LGAs,” he said, among others.

Ihedioha and those named in the report to have received the payments had denied the allegations.

festacman:
I am neither from Imo State nor a fan of Emeka Ihedioha but as a keen follower of politics in Nigeria, probes like this by teleguided House of Assembly is a mere witch-hunt project to smear the person of targeted political opponents and reduce their political goodwill and popularity.

This tactic has been employed by many former and serving governors against opponents . For example, Wike used it against Rotimi Amaechi and Ayo Fayose against Kayode Fayemi.

Let Gov. Hope Uzodimma handover all evidence against Emeka Ihedioha to EFCC to follow up. Simple.

Abagworo:


Ihedioha did worse against Okorocha his predecessor. He committed several atrocities in attempt to smear Okorocha's name but ended up not confirming any of the lies.

Abagworo:


Ihedioha did worse against Okorocha his predecessor. He committed several atrocities in attempt to smear Okorocha's name but ended up not confirming any of the lies.

SLAP44:
Our most loved Governor after Dee Sam Mbakwe.

Go ahead and Sue their shirts off their backs.

Abagworo:


Ihedioha did worse against Okorocha his predecessor. He committed several atrocities in attempt to smear Okorocha's name but ended up not confirming any of the lies.

Yankee101:
I pity imo folks and the type of leaders they've been getting

B2mario:

They produce better leaders than your state. Have you been to Imo state before? One of the best in Nigeria.

B2mario:
who is your most loved governor? Ikiri my man is far better than this man. Rochas still remain the best, his achievements are there for everyone to see.

Don't fight the anointed and genuine man, where is Emeka now?

He alleged that Rochas embezzled a huge sum of 1trillion naira without an evidence, though laughable because Imo state as a whole does not have such amount of money for someone to steal. Just for 7months Emeka was parading himself as a demi God. Was sacking and demoting workers, closing and destroying projects executed by Rochas, stole the only hand ✋ of God we have in Imo state, removed almost all the beautiful lights installed in the streets of Owerri, wasting time to start reconstruction of Imo state roads until he sensed that he might be removed.

Bro., that fellow is a disaster not a governor.