ICPC PROBES ALLEGED NIBN FRAUD IN AHOADA EAST LG

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced investigation into an alleged N1billion fraud and abuse of office said to have been perpetrated by the Chairman Ahoada East Local Government, Rivers State, Chief Cassidy O. W. Ikegbid.

In a petition forwarded to the ICPC by two legal practitioners, Chief Ikegbid was alleged to have spent over N600 million on some projects, without budgetary approval by councillors of the council.

The petitioners said: 'The councilors in Ahoada East Local Government are supposed to check the executive through their powers of appropriation and oversight functions. But revelations have shown that the 2008/2009 budget was not presented to the councillors for debate, approval and passing into law as appropriation bill, yet the chairman has spent over N600 million on alleged unknown projects.'

They also alleged that the council chairman inflated the contract awarded for the execution of the senior staff quarters to the tune of N240 million while N32 million was allegedly spent on the repair of street lights and supply of books to primary schools in the council. There was nothing like that on ground.

According to them, the street lights were not working while no books were supplied to primary schools in the council. The reality on ground was that Chief Ikegbid merely falsified documents to symbolize a project which does not exist.

The petitioners alleged that the chairman also falsified document when he claimed that N5 million was spent for the repairs of Abuja Estate KVA transformer in the council but there was nothing like that.