By Udo Akam-Alo, ABAKALIKI
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has constituted a 7-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the N2 billion Agricultural loan of 2016 from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and others, including foreign loans.
Inaugurating the Commission at the Executive Council Chambers, old Government House, Abakaliki, Umahi, stated that their appointment which has no attachment to political patronage takes effect from June 1st, 2020.
“I want the commission to investigate all the support given to Ebonyi people both at the state and local government and their names. All the agric loans from 2015, you have 2billion, you have 3billion, you have 5billion and I think another 3billion. So they are to investigate it, all the approvals that we made. They have to get all the approvals, they have to get the people that collected the money.
“These appointments are not political patronage. This is very important.
All your appointments takes effect on 1st of June.” He said.
Also, the Commission has been asked to investigate all domestic bailouts, Paris club funds and others
According to the Governor,
“You are also to investigate all domestic loans and the domestic loans are the SMEs, bailout funds, state and local government,the project support, the infrastructural funds that was paid to the state government, the Paris club.
“In my own understanding, I had asked the formal accountant general to tidy up all the Paris club, the bailout but they have all been tidied and sent to the House of Assembly but I want to do it under the commission of inquiry.
“So all these things will be investigated and the findings will be sent to the House of Assembly and them send to physical responsibility and of course to EXCO. I have to make my account to be straight and to keep it in case I leave office and also a sort of information for those that council without knowledge. This is very important and there is no going back on it.”
He frowned at the rate of increased criticisms without facts, referring to people’s reactions to the CBN 2016 Agric loan and warned the commission not to use the appointment to witch-hunt anybody but work rather on an established fact(s), noting that they were selected to call a spade a spade.
“The CBN has sent people to come and investigate all the money they gave to us and they have met with the accountant general.
“So some of these criticisms are well misplaced. My government since 2015 has not obtained any loan.”
Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Chris Eze, thanked Governor Umahi and pledged their readiness to perform their duties without fear or fervour.
“Your Excellency, I want to stand for all and tell you that we accept the appointment. By appointing one to judicial commission of inquiry, it is a demonstration of trust and confidence.
“I Am assuring you that this judicial commission of inquiry will discharge its duties without fear or favour,” Justice Eze pledged.
