Otti Inaugurates Panel To Recover Looted Funds, Property
Following his commitment to recover government properties and funds, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, Tuesday, inaugurated a five-member judicial panel.
The panel members are Justice Ikwuoma Duruoha-Igwe (retired) as Chairman; former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof. Ogwo Ekeoma Ogwo; professor of Mathematics at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Ursula Ngozi Akanwa; Ugochukwu Okoroafor and Rev. Fr Alex Okonkwo.
It was given the mandate to receive and examine complaints and memoranda from individuals and corporate entities on looting and/or conversion of government properties, funds and related matters.
Otti also directed the panel to, where necessary, make recommendations for remedial measures or any other measures as appropriate.
The governor asked the panel to examine and ascertain whether government moveable and immovable assets, as well as funds or part of them, have been illegally acquired, occupied and/or converted to private use, identify the persons responsible and make recommendations for recovery and appropriate sanctions.
He noted that the state government, since assumption of office a month ago, had been inundated with complaints of large-scale malfeasance by highly placed members of the past administration.
He said: “We have experienced unbridled looting and misuse of government properties and resources, besides difficulties in accessing government properties, which would usually be available to continue the business of governance.”
The governor also disclosed that his administration experienced a hostile handover situation, which made it difficult to hit the ground running on May 29.
He said that, according to him, many Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) find it difficult to perform their day-to-day duties, adding that even public schools were not spared, as part of their lands have been converted to private use.
Otti noted that his administration, which, he said, assumed office blindly, is now discovered that the reason for lack of cooperation from the immediate past administration might have arisen from widespread mischief by those given custody of collective assets and welfare of Abians.
 as Chairman; former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof.){kind=link}