The Chairman of Abia State Judicial Panel on Recovery of Government Property and Funds, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd) has issued a bench warrant on the General Manager, South East Farms and Agro Processing Co. Ltd, Mr Umezuruike Ikenna Kingsley, over his alleged failure to appear before the panel to give evidence.
Justice Duruoha-Igwe said the bench warrant was in respect of a notice dated 22/3/2024 served on Umezuruike.
The panel chairman added that up till the moment of the order, Umezuruike had not responded.
Justice Duruoha-Igwe thereby directed that the general manager should be arrested.
While adjourning the matter to 3/5/2024, he directed the general manager of Abia State Estate Development Agency, Mr Kelechi Nduaguibe and former Deputy Governor of the state, Acho Nwakanma, to appear before the panel to give evidence.
The panel equally entertained a memo served on the Permanent Secretary of Abia State Ministry of Works, Mr Izuchukwu Onwughara.
During cross examination, Onwughara alleged that the former administration in the state did not carry the Ministry of Works along in any direct labour road projects.
Onwughara, who was represented during the cross examination, said that the neglect of resident engineers working in the Ministry of Works by the previous administration rendered them irrelevant until the coming of the present government.
Abia govt property recovery panel orders arrest of company manager