Alleged N200m Contract Scam: Ebonyi Govt Debunks Arrest Of Governor Nwifuru’s Aide

Ebonyi State government has debunked the insinuation that the senior special assistant to the state governor on Project Monitoring, Mr. Chukwuma Nwiboko was arrested by the law enforcement agency in the state and is currently being detained and undergoing investigation.

In a statement signed by the special assistant to the governor, New Media, Mr. Leo Oketa, and made available to LEADERSHIP, the state government said that Mr Nwiboko was never arrested by any security agency, is not in detention, and is not under investigation for any contract, as none was awarded to him.

Mr Oketa maintained that a section of the media platforms is brandishing the contrary, that the SSA to the governor has been in detention for three days and is under investigation for an alleged N200m or N200b contract.

“Let me explicitly inform the general public, that this is false and misleading.”

He noted that Governor Francis Nwifuru is currently investigating the ongoing contract execution of the duplexes of traditional rulers in the state, adding that the governor is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that all contractors who are found wanting in the execution of the projects are made to face the law.

“The SSA to the Governor on project monitoring, Chukwuma Nwiboko is one of those saddled with the responsibility of fishing out the derailing contractors, as it is part of his job to monitor ongoing projects and report progress to the Governor.

“He was not awarded any contract, not to imagine one of such magnitude being alleged. He was only at the police station for some moments as a witness for the police who were investigating some of the arrested contractors.

“Chukwuma is going about his normal duties as directed. His Excellency on his path, is consistently focused on delivering on the NEEDS of Ebonyi people without margin(s) for error.”
Meanwhile, a group based in Abakaliki, Turn By Turn Initiatives, has called on Governor Nwifuru to consider reshuffling his cabinet and sack all underperforming appointees.

The group also tasked the governor to arrest and prosecute all contractors who have refused to execute their various projects in the state.

In a statement issued by Comrade Benjamin Nworie, the group’s national convener, the group also charged the governor with initiating any legal means that would facilitate the recovery of all funds spent on disposing of these contractors.