Alleged financial impropriety: Ebonyi govt to prosecute former fertilizer plant GM

The Ebonyi Government on Thursday, says it will prosecute the Former General Manager of the state Fertilizer Plant, Prof. Ogbonnaya Chukwu over alleged financial impropriety.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jude Okpor made the disclosure in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen at the end of the state Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.

Okpor said that the council received a report of the audit panel set up by the government to probe Chukwu’s tenure as the general manager of the plant.

“The panel from the office auditor-general of the state, indicted him for financial impropriety and other forms of unprofessional conduct.

“The panel reported that Chukwu used his private company to procure equipment and materials for the plant with government funds not properly accounted for,” he said.

The panel according to the commissioner, recommended that the matter be referred to state attorney general for further action.

“The government should charge the former GM for using the state storage facility for his private company.

“Board of directors should be properly constituted for effective supervision of the plant.

“Matters of criminality and shoddy transactions by the former GM should be referred to the police for investigation,” he said.

He also noted that the council received a report that 17, 834 applications were received by the state Civil Service Commission for employment.

“5,352 met the requirement of submitting original certificates with their application while the rest submitted their statements of results.

“The EXCO resolved to uphold the above shortlisting criteria but opportunities would be given to those who did not attach their certificates to do so before the screening,” he said.

Okpor remarked that the governor, who is the council’s chairman, emphasised that the recruitment should be merit-based.

“This is to give all applicants equal opportunities to compete for jobs as the commission was urged to fast-track the process to conclude the exercise quickly,” he said.

Efforts made by the newsmen to get the former GM’s reaction proved abortive, as he did not respond to the various phone calls put across to him.