Contract racketeering: EFCC, ICPC should arrest, probe Ebonyi Commissioners – PDP chieftain

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State, Mazi Moses Idika, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to arrest and probe the arrested Ebonyi commissioners over alleged contract racketeering.

DAILY POST reports that six commissioners were suspended over alleged involvement in a breach of a contract for the construction of 140 housing units for Izzo and Amaze communities.

The commissioners arrested are: Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma (Health), Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Hon. Victor Chukwu (Environment), Engr. Ogbonnaya Igboke (Project Monitoring), Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism) and Mr Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs).

Also indicted was Mr. Timothy Nwachi, the Executive Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area.

Idika, in a statement issued Friday in Abuja, said the revelation from the Government House in Abakaliki on Tuesday regarding the purported arrest of six commissioners of Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru was an unfortunate eye-opener on why the state has suddenly regressed into the abyss of stagnation in the last two years.

He noted: “Recent developments in Ebonyi State have become worrisome to the point that all Ebonyians must now come together to save the state from ruin.”

“The revelation from the Government House in Abakaliki on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, regarding the purported arrest of six commissioners of Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru is an unfortunate eye-opener on why the state has suddenly regressed into the abyss of stagnation in the last two years.”

“Though the state government, through the Commissioner for Border Peace and Internal Security, Mr Donatus Ilang, has been speaking from all corners denying the arrest of the commissioners, the government has not denied the fact that, against all known laws of procurement, public decency, and ethical conduct of public officials, the Government of Ebonyi State has, through the backdoor, awarded government contracts to government officials and cronies.”

“The above scenario is a direct affront to the Ebonyi State Public Procurement and Related Matters Law No. 016 of 2020, which expressly bars public officials from engaging in such procurement processes, as it poses a serious conflict of interest and predisposes such public officials to engaging in corrupt practices.”

“Similar laws apply to cabinet members as well as other government functionaries in all the states of the federation and at the federal level.”;

Idika added that, based on the foregoing, “it has become imperative to invite, not just security agencies, but anti-graft agencies including the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and ICPC to immediately take in the indicted commissioners and also fish out other government officials that may be involved in similar contract racketeering and flagrant violation of Ebonyi State procurement laws.”;

He noted that it was also instructive to remind Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru that governance should not be turned into a bazaar to settle political acolytes, family members, and cronies.