More trouble looms for embattled former Governor of Imo, Senator Rocha’s
Anayo Okorocha as forensic auditors and anti-graft czars try to make
sense of the sleaze that went on in the state while he held sway for
eight years of two four year terms.
Documents uncovered by the investigators and in possession of
Pointblanknews.com, have also thrown up many questions bothering on
financial recklessness, greed, impunity and outright stealing in the
Okorocha government spanning 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.
The documents involving over N24 billions and pertaining to one account
of the Imo State Government with Zenith Bank, reflect flagrant disregard
for financial procedure and deliberate manipulation of process,
amounting to outright stealing or embezzlement of public funds.
Of significance is the disbursement of funds to a suspiciously
fictitious company, Zigreat International Company, with registered
office address in Ogboko, home place of Okorocha in Ideato South of Imo
State but could not be traced by investigators.
A cursory review of statements obtained show that 90% of transactions
involving the said Zigreat International Company running into billions
of naira were often masked, sometimes with the purpose for disbursements
not stated.
Similarly, it was noted that nearly all cheques issued by the Imo State
Government in the period under review were drawn in the names of two
persons, namely; Ken Ijomah and one Ugorji E. U, identified as cash
officers under the office of the office of the Permanent Secretary,
Government House, Owerri.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the said Ijomah and Ugorji cashed
cheques running into billions, even when the beneficiaries are private
firms, prompting investigators to wonder whether the so-called companies
exist or whether it was one person that handled all government contracts
under Okorocha’s watch.
According to one of the investigators, “the documents suggest that the
identified cashers ran errands for a big man. Definitely not the
Permanent Secretary. But I can tell you its a very cheap way to steal.
Are you saying that the so called Zigreat International Company does not
have a bank account?”, he asked.
Continuing, our source revealed that Ken Ijomah, who Pointblanknews.com
confirmed is now retired from the Imo State Government, cashed 80‰ of
the money from account number 1006251232 with Zenith Bank. “Cheques were
drawn in his name, mostly in multiples of N10 million”, he added.
Expectedly, the former Governor may soon meet face to face with his
nemesis as forensic auditors put their acts together to confront him on
the malfeasance noticed in addition to asking the Imo State Government
to press criminal charges.
This is apart from the war of attrition between Okorocha and incumbent
Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, culminations in the arrest, detention
and arraignment of the former Governor by the police for breaking into a
property belonging to the Imo State Government.
Okorocha last week led thugs to unseal the Royal Palm Estate, allegedly
owned by his wife, but said to have been built with funds from the
government, an action which Uzodinma considered criminal and ordered for
the arrest.
Uzodinma had earlier ordered the immediate takeover of the Royal Palm
Estate in Owerri, the state capital and the Eastern Palm University,
which ownership were claimed by the former Governor as well as ten other
properties recommended to be confiscated by a panel of enquiry.
Angered by Uzodinma’s order, Okorocha reportedly engaged in self-help by
mobilising alleged thugs to unseal the estate while threatening to deal
with the incumbent Governor, leading to his arrest.