by Isi Esene

The Imo State branch of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria has dragged the state governor, Rochas Okorocha and other government functionaries to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly misappropriating public funds.

ALGON, through its lawyer, C.O.C Akaolisa is accusing Okorocha of “criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, stealing, misappropriation of public funds and the financial rot in Okorocha’s administration in Imo state.”

In its petition, the association accused the state government of awarding phantom road contracts at inflated costs wondering how the state government could award a contract for a three kilometer road at a cost of N1.2bn.

According to ALGON, the monies left by the former governor, Ikedi Ohakim were never appropriated in any state budget.

The petition reportedly noted that, “These funds were never appropriated in any budget of the state since taking over office and control of same.”

The local council operators equally told EFCC that the entire N26.27bn have been squandered without the knowledge of Imo people.

We shall be waiting to hear the governor’s reaction to these serious allegations of corruption.