Ebonyi Governor In N16.5 Billion Bond Scandal, Lawmaker Seeks Jonathan’s Intervention

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Stave off impeachment move

The political crisis rocking Ebonyi state assumed a new dimension Monday as factional Speaker of the troubled State House of Assembly, Mr. Chuckwuma Nwazunku accused the Governor, Mr. Martin Elechi, of mismanaging the N16.5 billion bond obtained from the capital market.

The money in question was sourced in 2010 for the execution of specific capital projects in the state namely, the International Market, the State Secretariat, Oforekpe Water Scheme.

The indictment was contained in a letter written and signed by Ebonyi State House of AssemblyMr Nwazunku and sent to president Goodluck Jonathan urging him to withhold his approval of the second bond of 15 billion sought by Governor Elechi.

Mr Nwazunku further indicted the governor of diverting the bond money noting that the projects that the money was meant for “are scarcely attended to, to the extent that even in the next one-year the project will never be implemented.”

His words: “Since our approval of the second bond, however certain revelations have come to light to warrant keeping the second in view pending a proper detailed briefing of the house on the use of the first bond.

“It does not appear as if the first bond has been properly used in view of the fact that the target projects the bond was meant for was scarcely attended to, to the extent that even in the next one-year the project will never be implemented.

“We have requested for proper briefing on the use of the first bond but rather that do so, all hell has been let loose on some house members. We are, however, not bothered by this state of affairs.

“We have requested for proper briefing on the use of the first bond but rather that do so, all hell has been let loose on some house members. We are, however, not bothered by this state of affairs.

“In view of the fact that the target projects for the first bond obtained will still take over one year to complete, and in view also that the tenure of the present administration will be rounding off in the next 6 months, we respectfully invite your excellency to graciously withhold your kind approval of the new second bond which the Ebonyi state government has applied for pending when our relevant committee is properly briefed on the use of the first bond.”