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The Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Properties and Funds belonging to Abia State government set up by Governor Alex Otti, on Tuesday held its inaugural sitting, calling on members of the public to forward their petitions and memoranda to assist the panel execute its assignment.
The Eastern Updates reports that this coming despite the fact that an Abuja high court had, in July, through an ex-parte order, reportedly restrained the panel from sitting. But Chairman of the panel, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (rtd), disclosed that the panel was served any court order.
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She explained that the panel, which Governor Alex Ottil established in June 2023, is not a court and that it will work with petitions and memoranda provided to it while providing the governor with appropriate counsel and suggestions. The panel’s mandate, according to Duruoha-Igwe, includes receiving and reviewing complaints and memoranda from individuals and other entities regarding theft of or conversion of government funds and property, as well as other related issues. If necessary, the panel is to recommend to the government corrective measures or other suitable actions.
It is also to examine and ascertain whether government’s moveable or immoveable assets and funds have been illegally acquired or occupied or converted to private use, as well as identify the person who is responsible and further make recommendations for recovering and appropriate sanctions.
She said that the panel was also mandated to ascertain the extent of allocations and revocations of lands in the state from May 2015 to May 2023 and determine the propriety of such allocation or revocation or otherwise. Other responsibilities are to review the award and execution of contracts from May 2015 to May 2023 and ascertain if they were in conformity with extant laws, and investigate any other matter incidental or related to the foregoing terms of reference and make recommendations to the state government.
Justice Duruoha-Igwe further disclosed that the panel, which was given 90 days to execute its assignment, shall exercise its powers, which include summoning anybody in Nigeria, in discharging its duties. She also promised that the panel would not carry on as if the persons summoned were already targeted or considered guilty.
She noted that the panel’s sittings, which would run from Tuesdays to Thursdays, would be open to the public.
