Ebonyi Assembly freezes LG accounts over alleged fraud

Ebonyi State House of Assembly yesterday froze the account of Local Government Areas and Development Centres of the state over alleged corruption and misappropriation of funds.

The House also froze the joint accounts between the council areas and state government following their inability to execute meaningful projects that affect the lives of the people with the monies accrued to it.

It also passed a resolution stopping the sale of forms and allocation of shops at the international market built by Governor Martin Elechi, saying the project was still ongoing, describing the action as fraudulent.

In a motion moved by Obasi Odefa representing Onicha East and seconded by Frank Onwe, representing Ohaukwu North constituency, the lawmakers called on the House to freeze the accounts of the council areas because of the rot in the system over the years.

Odefa said chairmen of the council areas and development centres had not executed meaningful projects except cutting of grasses, saying there was no accountability in the system.

He said any bank operating the accounts of the council areas that failed to comply with the directives of the House would be blacklisted for a period of eight years, adding that only salaries should be paid to the council areas.

Onwe while seconding the motion said the joint allocation committee ceased to exist and directed the treasurers, heads of personnel management, accounting officers and others with the financial records of finance of the council areas to submit the same to the House for further investigation.

In another development, Valentine Okike, representing Onicha West and Julius Nwokopor, representing Ishielu South had condemned the sale of forms and allocation of shops at the international market to the public, while the market was still under construction.

The Speaker, Chief Chukwuma Nwazunku, in a voice vote unanimously adopted the motions and directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Rose Nwokporo, to communicate the resolutions of the House to various ministries and bodies involved.