Imo Assembly Faults Agency On Arrests
THE Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun interrogation of some state officials in order to burst ghost workers' syndicate.
The commissioner stated this at the weekend while speaking with journalists in Jos.
He disclosed that the EFCC has been talking to staff suspected of being accomplices in the ghost workers' syndrome in the state.
"The EFCC has waded into the matter. Government's position is that it would reposition the state's civil service as an engine room for effective performance in the state."
He also said that the state government would spend over N800m in building a civil service institution to train staff to be more productive and efficient.
This comes as the 27-member Imo State House of Assembly at the weekend vented its anger on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), following the arrest of two Imo State government officials.
The House accused the EFCC of playing to a script of mischief and diversion from truth.
Few days ago, the commission swooped on two officials, arresting them over allegations they collected loans by the state government to the tune of over N45b, and misappropriated funds.
EFCC's Head of Media, Wilson Uwajere, however, confirmed that the arrested persons have been released.
In a statement, signed by Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly (Chief Benjamin Uwajimogu), the House said it has no problem on the issue of due process with the executive arm of the government and wondered why the anti-graft agency whisked off Commissioner for Finance, Mr. John Chike Okafor and Accountant General, Mr. George Eche.
The statement reads in part: "It is, therefore, clear that the action of the EFCC in the state is mischievously diversionary and capable of distracting the purpose-driven rescue mission government of this administration.
"The office of the Speaker of Imo State House Assembly wishes to inform the general public that the financial transactions of the present government in the state have followed due process (and with the consent of the Imo State House of Assembly)."
The Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, meanwhile, condemned the attack on Du village by unknown persons, which led to the killings of two people.
Abraham who gave the names of those killed as Pwajok Gyang and Davou Pau, said government and security operatives are working hard to ensure that lasting peace returns to the state.
He charged security personnel to respond swiftly whenever there is an attack and called on people of the area to be calm and desist from taking the laws into their hands.
