Afrigather Anti-Corruption Group Calls for Entry To Abia Forensic Audit Report
Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFR&PA), a Professional-democracy, human rights, anti-corruption and public curiosity advocacy group, has written to Governor Alex Otti, the Secretary to Abia State authorities, Prof. Kenneth Kalu and the state Lawyer Normal and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, demanding entry to the lately carried out Abia Forensic Audit Report.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>
Within the letter signed by Ukpai Ukairo, Member, Board of Trustees, CFR&PA, the group within the letters titled “Utility for entry to information below the part 1 and three of the Freedom of Info Act”, dated 23-04-2024 with a reception stamp/date on all letters courting 24-04-2024 made an official demand to entry the Abia authorities forensic audit report.
The letters learn in components, “We respectfully apply for entry to the next information, to wit: A duplicate of the Forensic Audit Report which Governor Alex Otti, the Govt Governor of Abia State referred to and relied upon in his City Corridor Assembly in america of America to allege that His Excellency, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration paid billions of Naira for an airport and to un-named contractors,
“The Letter of appointment of the Audit Agency that carried out the Forensic Audit as required below the Public Procurement Act,
“The voucher/s displaying the funds made to the Audit agency for its skilled providers,
“The extract of the minutes of Govt Council Assembly adopting the stated Forensic Audit Report.”
Additionally within the letters, the CFR&PA urged the involved places of work to understand that by the Freedom of Info Act (FIOA), they’ve seven days to launch the information as formally requested.
“Please, allow us to remind you, that you’ve seven days, below the Freedom of Info Act, to launch the above information to us. Settle for the assurances of our highest regards.”
Recall that Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Friday, April 19, 2024, on the Johns Hopkins College Faculty of Superior Worldwide Research, in america of America engaged viewers the place he alleged {that a} forensic audit has revealed how his predecessor embezzled an enormous amount of cash from the federal government account.
In his phrases, “Speaking about corruption, I had arrange a forensic audit as quickly as I took over workplace in Abia, final 12 months (2023). In order that there gained’t be any argument, I referred to as in one of many prime three audit corporations on this planet, and never too way back, they turned of their report, and a few of the issues of their report are horrifying.
“So, some N9.3 billion was paid to seven contractors for contracts that weren’t executed in any respect up until right now. One other N15.9 billion (N16 billion) was paid to 63 contractors with no supporting paperwork anyplace within the state.
“One other N12 billion was paid to 2 contractors for contracts that don’t exist, out of this determine N10 billion was on September 25, 2020, paid to a contractor for the development of the Abia State Airport.
“We’ve hung out making an attempt to find the airport and up until now haven’t been capable of find it… So, as we proceed to search for our airport, we have now additionally instructed the safety businesses to assist us search.
“Whenever you juxtapose that with pensions that had been mendacity unpaid for about 10 years and the wage arrears, simply one among these headings, the N10 billion that was spent to construct a non-existent airport, was precisely the amount of cash our authorities used to take off the pension arrears.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>
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