Panel Orders Abia Assembly Clerk To Return Six Vehicles Received From Previous Administration

The Abia State Judicial Panel of Enquiry set up by governor Alex Otti to probe the administration of his predecessor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has ordered the State House of Assembly Clerk, John Pedro Irokansi to return over six vehicles he collected from the previous government.

The Judicial Panel which is charged with the responsibilities of recovering government properties and funds revealed that the Assembly clerk allegedly received the six vehicles from the immediate-past administration in the state where he also served as Clerk to the Assembly.

According to the Panel, the Clerk who is a civil servant, was not supposed to be collecting same vehicles bought for elected Abia State House of Assembly Members.

Recall that governor Otti had after his inauguration as elected governor of the state set up a judicial panel of inquiry tasked with recovering government properties from the state government officials who served under the administration of his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

Dr. Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) served as a two-term governor of the state from May 29, 2015 to May 29 2023, when he handed over to Otti.

Otti, the Labour Party candidate in the 18 March governorship election in the state, defeated the ruling PDP candidate, Okey Ahiwe, to emerge the winner.

Otti, since he was sworn in as governor on 29 May last year, has been in a war of words with Ikpeazu, whom he accused of leaving “huge debts” for the new administration.