A local government chairman in Ebonyi State, six commissioners, and some contractors have been arrested for an alleged breach of contract.
According to Daily Sun, The local government chairman, Chief Timothy Nwachi, Commissioner for Project Monitoring, Felix Igboke, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Omari Omaka (SAN), his Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters counterpart, Uchenna Igwe, and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ifeanyi Ogbuewu, were among those arrested.
Others include the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, and the suspended Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu. They were apprehended for an alleged delay in the execution of 140 housing units for the Izzo and Amaze communities in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, who were displaced in the Ezilo and Ezza Ezilo intercommunal clash that claimed many lives.
The government officials and contractors were arrested by security operatives made up of police and military personnel.
It was learnt that some of those not in their offices were arrested at their homes during a raid by the security operatives. Those who were not at home when the security operatives raided them were given invitation letters by the police.
The government officials supervising the housing project were reportedly declared wanted by the state government, leading to their arrest. These officials are members of the State Executive Council Committee on Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, set up by the state government to ensure the timely completion of the project.
The Chairman of the Committee and Commissioner for Border Peace, Donatus Ilang, who disclosed the arrest of the government officials and contractors in Abakaliki, the state capital, said Governor Francis Nwifuru was not happy with the slow pace of work on the project.
“The government embarked on this arrest because it felt that the contractors had breached the terms and conditions of the contract. The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects.
“As you can see, our governor is a man with a passionate heart; he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis. He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered the arrest of all the commissioners who were supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing units.
“The commissioners we arrested today were: Professor Omari Omaka, Commissioner for Tertiary Education; Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Ifeanyi Ogbuewu; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe; Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma; Commissioner for Project Monitoring, Felix Igboke; and the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr Timothy Nwachi,” he said.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command was aware of the arrest of the government officials and contractors.
However, he said he was not sure if they were detained.
