Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has ordered the arrest of six commissioners and the suspension of the Afikpo Local Government Chairman, Timothy Nwachi, over alleged contract breaches related to the construction of 140 housing units for the Izzo and Amaze communities.
The commissioners arrested include:
Prof. Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education)
Victor Chukwu (Environment)
Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism)
Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters)
Moses Ekuma (Health)
Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring)
According to reports, the affected officials were declared wanted before their arrest. Governor Nwifuru, through the Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, Ilang Donatus, stated that the officials and contractors had failed to meet the terms of the contract.
“The governor is displeased with the slow pace of work, which should have been completed by now. He is determined to hold accountable those responsible for the delay, including the contractors and the supervising commissioners,” Donatus said.
The project, intended to provide housing for victims of communal crises, was expected to be completed in time for the governor’s second-anniversary celebrations. However, the administration believes that negligence and poor supervision have hindered progress.
Maria Okohu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization (Ebonyi Central) and a member of the Executive Council Committee, described the failure to meet the deadline as an act of sabotage.
The state government has vowed to continue the arrests until all those involved are held accountable. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police have reportedly issued invitations to some of the commissioners and contractors who were not at home when the committee visited.
