…Vows to waive immunity to testify at Commission’s sitting
Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has inaugurated a 7-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the disbursement of Agricultural Credit Scheme for 2016 farming season and Other Expenditure of the state government.
Speaking during the swearing in of members of the Commission at the Executive Council Chambers Government House, in Abakaliki, on Thursday, Governor Umahi charged the members to strive and exhibit diligence and transparency in the discharge of their duties.
He named Justice Chris Eze as Chairman of the Commission while other members include the Vice Chairman of Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council Chief Romania Iyioku, Rev. Onyeuwaoma Onyeka and Mr. Egenti Okwuegbu.
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Umahi outlined the Terms of Inquiry of the Commission to include investigating the support that has so far accrued to the state, investigate all foreign loans obtained by the state and evaluate all the approvals.
“The Commission of injury must investigate all the support given to Ebonyi State, all the agricultural loans from 2015 till date, investigate all approvals made by the government, investigate all foreign loans
“I will waive my immunity to appear before the commission of Inquiry if I am invited, all this things must be investigated.
“I have to make my Account straight, this Commission is not to witch-hunt any person. Since 2015 my government have not obtained any foreign loan.”
He charged the panel to investigate all Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs),”all bailout funds, all Budget support and Paris Club, among others.
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Governor Umahi maintained that the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) has sent people to the state to investigate all the money given to the state from the apex financial body.
Earlier, in his presentation, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Cletus Ofoke, said that the setting of the Commission was borne out the petition written by farmers and other stakeholders on 2016 agricultural loan scheme.
According to Okeke, “In May 2020, the state Executive Council approved the constitution of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.”
Earlier in his acceptance speech on behalf of the members, the chairman of the panel, pledged the commitment of the members to discharge the responsibilities assigned to them.