Owerri Nigeria: Is Rochas Okorocha Siphoning Imo State? Group Wants $52 Million Imo Hotel Contract Probed

A group, Concerned Imo Citizens has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the abandoned 18 storey hotel complex in Owerri, the state capital. Chairman of the group, Chief Ceejay Ezebuiro said there was something strange about the contract, alleging that Bill of Quantity of the contract was written in Korean language which made it impossible for the engineer from the state ministry of Works to read. Ezebuiro who is a close associate of Gov. Rochas Okorocha added that the contract worth $52million has since been abandoned after the contracting firm; Hanjin Nigeria Limited was mobilized with N1billion.

 The group boss alleged that the Korean partners of the company have been deported as they entered Nigeria with visiting visas rather than work permit. He urged the anti corruption agency to quiz Okorocha’s alter ego and Nigerian shareholder of the firm, Chief Nyerere Anyim to unravel the reason why the contract was abandoned. According to him, “If Chief Macdonald Akano was quizzed in connection with the controversial Sam Mbakwe Avenue contract; I wonder why Chief Nyerere Anyim is untouchable.”

 Ezebuiro also called on the EFCC to investiagate why a sole proprietorship, Optimum General Services is being engaged either to execute or sublet contracts running into billions of Naira in the state, adding that according to the Act establishing it, a sole proprietorship cannot execute a contract worth more than N10million. He alleged that the company is not only being awarded contracts running into billions of naira, but is also engaged in subletting contracts. extract from pointblanknews.com