During a session led by Justice Florence Doruoha-Igwe (retd), the Abia State judicial panel of inquiry on the recovery of government assets and funds has ordered the temporary sealing-off of Plot 43 Finbars Road, Umuahia.
The action was taken pending the completion of investigations into the ownership of the structure.
Believed to be carried out by personnel from the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), the sealing of the structure, which houses the PDP’s secretariat, occurred on Wednesday.
Justice Doruoha-Igwe clarified during the panel’s sitting that observations indicated the property belongs to the Abia State government.
Consequently, she directed senior lead counsel H. N. Doruoha to serve notice on PDP’s Abia State chairman, Alwell Asiforo Okere, and the immediate past Commissioner for Lands, Chidi Onwuchuruba, to appear before the panel on February 16 to provide further details regarding the PDP structure.
In addition, Government House Permanent Secretary Benson Ojeikere and several former permanent secretaries from the state appeared before the panel to address inquiries into their tenures.
Ojeikere highlighted alleged irregularities in accounting records, project documentation, and vehicle allocation to government appointees, which he claimed were conducted without proper procedures.
Former Permanent Secretary of the Abia State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mba Okereke, clarified that he was not responsible for revenue collection or project implementation during his tenure.
Former Solicitor General and ex-Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne, affirmed that no employment irregularities occurred during her tenure.
