The Director of Computer Services at the Abia State Ministry of Budget and Planning, Ejem Kalu, and the retired Director of Debt Management in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Umah Ukaonu, were called before the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Government Properties and Funds to address a petition filed by A. N. Nwachukwu. The petition alleges collusion and the withdrawal of millions of naira.
Another petition lodged with the panel disputes the wrongful removal of Mrs. Joyce Chidozie Ubani from her position as Head of NG Cares Units and the non-implementation of NG Cares projects in Abia State.
During cross-examination by the Panel’s legal counsel, Mr. Ejem Kalu clarified that Mrs. Joyce Chidozie Ubani did not hold the position of State Cares Coordinating Units (SCCU). He explained that the World Bank had directed the state to appoint State Cares Coordinating Units, a role he assumed.
Kalu stated that the first tranche of money, totaling 1.1 billion naira, was disbursed to six platforms after successfully documenting and implementing 86% of NG Cares Units projects in Abia State. The platforms included Cash Transfer (62 million naira), Labour Intensive Public Work (61 million naira), CSDA (280 million naira), FADAMA (517 million naira), and SCCU (142,980,244.60 naira). Kalu affirmed that the 1.1 billion naira from the World Bank was appropriately utilized for its intended purpose.
In response, Umah Ukaonu explained that the funds were released and withdrawn from the Ministry through the signatures of the Permanent Secretary, himself as the Director of Debt Management, and the Director of Finance for various projects and programs. He also mentioned that 10 million naira was generated in 2022 from companies partnering with the Abia State government, and such funds were directly deposited into government coffers.
In a separate matter before the Judicial Panel, the former General Manager of Methodological Complex Nig LTD, Mr. Henry Nwaijike, claimed that equipment and machines kept in the company’s warehouses were looted by unknown individuals. He reported the incident to security agencies and denied involvement in the looting of government property.
The petitioner, Onyebuchi Nwankpa, spokesperson of the Abia State Ministry of Trade, argued that the former General Manager should account for how the equipment and machines were looted during the handover process. Counsel to the Abia State Judicial Panel, Mrs. Enobong Okafor, referred to a letter dated 3/5/2022 by Johnson Onuoha, indicating that the evacuation of machines occurred before Henry Nwaijike handed over to the acting General Manager of Methodological Complex Nig LTD, Ada Chukwu.