Contract racketeering: PDP chieftain demands EFCC’s arrest, prosecution of suspended commissioners in Ebonyi

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi state, Mazi Moses Idika, has called on all abti-graft agencies to immidiately take in all the government officials recently suspended by Governor Francis Nwifuru for proper investigations and to save the state from mismanagement.

The PDP chieftain also called on
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Tribunal (ICPC) to immediately fish out other government officials that may be involved in similar contract racketeering and flagrant violation of Ebonyi state procurement laws.

The six Commissioners were suspended over alleged involvement in breach of a contract for the construction of 140 housing units for Izzo and Amaze communities.

The Commissioners suspended by the governor including, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma (Health), Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Hon. Victor Chukwu (Environment), Engr. Ogbonnaya Igboke (Project Monitoring), Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism) and Mr. Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs).

Also indicted was Mr. Timothy Nwachi, the Executive Chairman of Afikpo North Local Government Area.

Responding to the development through a statement Friday in Abuja, Mazi Idika who hails from Oshiri, Onicha LGAs in Ebonyi state, said the revelation from the Government House Abakaliki on Tuesday April 1, 2025 over the purported arrest of six Commissioners of Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru “is an unfortunate eye-opener on why the state has suddenly regressed into the abyss of stagnation in the last two years.”

According to Idika, On Tuesday April 1, many Ebonyians felt that it was a government sponsored ‘April Fool’ prank when news filtered into town.

“Recent developments in Ebonyi State has become worrisome to the point that all Ebonyians must now come together to save the state from ruin.
The revelation from the Government House Abakaliki on Tuesday April 1, 2025 over the purported arrest of six commissioners of Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru is an unfortunate eye-opener on why the state has suddenly regressed into the abyss of stagnation in the last two years.

“Though the state government through the Commissioner for Border Peace and Internal Security, Mr. Donatus Ilang has been speaking from all corners denying the arrest of the commissioners, the government has not denied the fact that, against all known laws of procurement, public decency and ethical conduct of public officials, the Government of Ebonyi State has through the backdoor awarded government contracts to government officials and cronies.

“The above scenario is a direct affront on the Ebonyi State Public Procurement and Related Matters Law No. 016 of 2020 which expressly provides bars public official from engaging in such procurement processes as it poses serious conflict of interest and predisposes such public officials to engaging corrupt practices. The law in section Section 68 subsection 1-13 clearly bars public officials including commissioners from such acts.

“Similar laws applies to cabinet members as well as other government functionaries in all the states of the federation and at the federal level.
Based on the foregoing, it has become imperative to invite, not just security agencies, but anti-graft agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Tribunal (ICPC) to immediately take in the indicted commissioners and also fish out other government officials that may be involved in similar contract racketeering and flagrant violation of Ebonyi State procurement laws.

“It is also instructive that we remind Ebonyi State Government led by Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru that governance should not be turned to a bazaar to settle political acolytes, family members and cronies.
Enough is Enough! Ebonyi public resources should not be used to build private business empires!”

The PDP chieftain cited some sections of the state procurement laws which states that ” the Bureau shall, with the approval of the Council, stipulate a Code of Conduct for all public officers, suppliers, contractors and service providers with regards to the standards of conduct acceptable in matters involving the procurement and disposal of public assets.

“The conduct of all persons involved with public procurement, whether as official of the Bureau, a procuring entity, supplier, contractor or service provider shall at all times be governed by principles of honesty, accountability, transparency, fairness and equity.

“All officers of the Bureau, members of Tenders’ Boards and other persons that may come to act regarding the conduct of public procurements shall subscribe to an oath as approved by Council.”