The transition chairman in ITU LGA, Mrs Elsie Esara
yesterday dishonoured the invitation of the Akwa Ibom State House
of Assembly Committee on Local Government for the second time.
The committee which acted on the directive of the AKHA to investigate
the alleged embezzlement of Itu LGA Internally generated Revenues funds,
had earlier invited Mrs Esara to appear before it to answer to
allegations levelled against her in a petition sent in to AKHA and
signed by some members of the Transition Committee including, the
supervisor for Health, Mr. Emem Uboh and two others.
laste chairman of ITU is alleged to have embezzled over 50 million naira internally generated revenue from Etaha, Itam market, Obot Itu fishing/timber beach and Itu bridge head market, among other internally generated revenue sources of the LGA , the money which she allegedly used to amassed wealth for herself including landed properties and expensive car.
It is reported that one Etaha Itam market day generates over
30 million naira . also AKTC, Obot Itu fishing/timber Itu bridge head
market generates not less than 15 million naira weekly.
The
petition alleged that Mrs. Esara admitted sharing the internally
generated Revenue of the LGA with some acclaimed Stakeholders in Itu and
further said part of the fund goes to the wife of the state Governor,
Deaconesses Mather Udom Emmanuel whom she allegedly claimed facilitated
her appointment as the transition chairman of Itu.
Having shunned
the first invitation by the House committee on LGA on Tuesday,2nd
May, the Committee though not happy over Mrs. Esara' action thought it
wise to give her a second chance and invited her again to appear before
the Committee on Friday,5th.
But Itu councils chairman again ignored the
Lawmakers invitation and instead, opted for court injunction to stop
the state House of Assembly from investigating her.
Five members
of the transition committee are said to have honoured the invitation
including, supervisor for works,Mr. Ubong Edem, supervisor for special
duties,Mr. Kufre Emah, supervisor for health, Mr.Emem Uboh, the council
secretary, Mr. Etido Ibid and supervisor for women affaires, Mrs.
Anthonia Udoette.
The council secretary mr. Etido Ibid and the
supervisor for women affaires mrs. Anthonia have been reportedly joined
other three supervisors in the petition.
Meanwhile, a close ally to the
Transition chairman who pleaded not to be mention hinted that the the
council boss boasted that she cannot appear before the state Assembly
because, according to her she is highly connected to the who is who in
Akwa Ibom politics.
In the course of filling in this report
some Itu indigenes were asked about their opinion on the matter, Mrs.
Etoroabasi fear God said, "If the House of Assembly does not sanction
Itu LGA chairman for her action, it would have set a bad precedent which
mean that any public office holder can misbehave and get away with it,
believing that the state House of Assembly can only back but cannot
bite". She cried for justice to be done to save her beloved LGA from
embezzlers.
Other indigenes of Itu also joined in condeming the
Chairman's action and call on the AKHA and the EFCC not to sweep the
matter under the carpet.
While waiting patiently, for the next
turn of events on this matter, one would not expect the 6th Assembly to
fail to live up to its name-" The people's assembly" which has endeared
it to the masses since the inception of this present Assembly.
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