Agric loan controversy: AESID want EFCC, others to probe state financial records

Agric loan controversy: AESID want EFCC, others to probe state financial records

- A call has been made for anti-corruption agencies to probe Ebonyi state financial records for the past 16 years

- The call was made by an influential group in the state, Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora

- The group called on the agencies to bring to book all those who have caused the state economic doldrums and future dooms

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The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has asked the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to embark on a comprehensive probe of the state financial records in the last 16 years.

The association specifically called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and the police to bring to book all those who have caused the state economic doldrums and future dooms beginning from the Sam Egwu-led administration to Elechi and now, the Dave Umahi-led government.

In a statement signed on Sunday, May 31 by the president of the association, Ambassador Pascal Oluchukwu, the group said the probe become necessary over alleged mismanagement of N2billion loan given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the state government for the 2016 farming season.

Agric loan controversy: AESID want EFCC, others to probe state financial records
The AESID wants the EFCC to probe the financial records of Ebonyi state under Egwu, Elechi and Umahi. Photo credit: Daily Sun
Source: Facebook

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Part of the statement read: “We are aware that it all started with the courage and boldness of one of the enlightened citizens of the state and former secretary to the Ebonyi state government, Professor Benard Odoh to hold the Umahi-led administration accountable especially with regards to the disturbing statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics which recently named our state as the 3rd poorest in the federation and information from the Debt Management Office, DMO which indicates that the present government has increased the State’s domestic and external borrowings.

“Already, Prof. Odoh had in his response to the allegations maintained that he had no hands in the disbursements of the said fund as his role was merely limited to providing strategic leadership for the supervising ministry of agriculture.

“After making startling disclosures to the effect that only a little over N900m out of the total sum were released to the committee for disbursements and purchase of tractors, a seemingly confident Odoh has filed a petition to the EFCC inviting it to probe all persons involved in the matter while also stunningly offering himself to be investigated.

“AESID as a non-governmental organization whose mandate is to protect and safeguard the interests and welfare of the common Ebonyian, we laud the steps taken so far by the former SSG, Prof. Odoh in reporting this matter to the EFCC which is indeed the appropriate body to investigate financial crimes and prosecute offenders as being in the right direction.”

Recall that the AESID recently called on security agencies to intervene and quickly bring to end cases of political violence and killings allegedly ongoing in Asaga Owutu Edda in Afikpo south local government area of Ebonyi state.

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