Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has granted an approval for the extension of the work of the judicial panel of inquiry on the recovery of Government Properties, Funds and related matters to address areas not yet covered.
The Governor gave the approval while receiving the final report of the Panel at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA.
According to the Governor, since there were petitions that have not been investigated, more time should be given to the panel to cover such areas instead of abruptly terminating the job of the panel.
Otti, who said that he had earlier received the interim report, believed that the final report is as thorough as the interim version and thanked the members of the Judicial Panel for their courage in resisting those who tried to frustrate them.
He thanked the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Florence Duruoha Igwe and her team for a job well done and assured them that the government will take the recommendations in the report seriously and implement it to the letter.
“I can assure you that we are going to take this report very seriously and we are going to implement it to the letter.
“I want to reassure you that none of your recommendations will be swept under the carpet,” he said.
Governor Otti further disclosed that some of the people invited by the panel who had illegitimately acquired what did not belong to them have started complying by returning them to the government and called on others yet to do so to follow suit before the government comes after them.
Submitting the three-volume report to the Governor earlier, the Chairman of the Panel of Inquiry, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe said that the panel received 350 petitions and memoranda and had 99 sittings.
She explained that they were able to conclude on such areas of their assignment as markets, lands, employments, movable properties, contracts and other related matters.
She appealed to the Governor to implement the recommendations.
DAILY POST recalls that cars, tertiary institution bus and other property were recovered by the Panel from former officials of the state government and politicians.
Otti vows implementation as Abia Panel on recovery of govt property submits findings