Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has stated the reasons for his decision to form a judicial panel of investigation to find allegedly stolen government properties from former officials.
Otti most recently established a committee tasked with reclaiming the property in the state.
The State High Court in Umuahia's Justice Florence Ikwuoma Duruoha-Igwe was selected as the panel's chairman.
Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, Rev. Fr. Alex Okonkwo, and Prof. Ogwo Ekeoma Ogwo are other members of the panel.
However, Otti said in a post sent out via his Twitter account on Wednesday morning that he had decided to organize a commission to reclaim the state's assets due to widespread claims of embezzlement and misuse of public resources by past authorities.
Otti tweeted, “Honored to inaugurate the Judicial Panel focused on the recovery of Abia State’s assets.
“Ordinarily, the desire of this administration would have been to focus on the business of governance and the delivery of the dividend of democracy without resorting to any form of inquiry into past deeds.
“However, in response to large-scale allegations of misuse and misappropriation of public resources by former officials. A very hostile handover with many assets inaccessible and operations starting from ground zero... Emphasizes the need for inquiry and accountability, as advocated by our citizens.”
