PDP accuses Rochas of taking $47m out of Imo coffers over the last week and appropriating state property

GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha has been accused by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of withdrawing N17bn ($47m) of Imo State funds from four commercial banks over the last three days and converting government property to personal use.

Due to leave office on May 29 after completing his two terms in office, Governor Okorocha ran for senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking to become the senator representing Imo West Senatorial District. After the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission's (Inec) returning office Professor Ibeawuchi declared Governor Rochas Okorocha the winner of having secured 97,762 votes.

According to Professor Ibeawuchi, the governor defeated Jones Onyereri of the PDP, who secured 68,117 and Osita Izunaso of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, who got 30,084 votes. However, after Professor Ibeawuchi revealed that he announced the results under duress, Inec cancelled them and plans to hold supplementary polls in the constituency on March 23.

There was no such drama with the governorship elections however as former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP won the Imo State gubernatorial race. According to the PDP, Governor Okorocha is now looting the state treasury before he leave office on May 29.

Charles Ezekwem, the chairman of the Imo State chapter of the PDP, alleged that between Tuesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 14, Governor Okorocha made withdrawals from Access Bank, Zenith Bank, Unity Bank and Skye Bank amounting to over N17bn. He further alleged that there is an ongoing mass employment programme tacking place involving the and back-dating of employment with a view to creating problems for the incoming government.

Mr Ezekwem said:“In the last two days alone, Governor Okorocha and his cronies transferred ownership and re-registered more than 150 government vehicles to individuals. Government property including furniture and electronics in Government House, Owerri, are being moved out to Ogboko, Ideato South, the governor’s country home.

“About 300 uninstalled transformers have been moved to the governor’s home in Ogboko. We are also aware of the rampant issuance of Certificates of Occupancy to family members and friends of the Okorocha family."

However, Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Okorocha's spokesman urged the public to ignore what he termed the posturing of the incoming PDP government. He added that the party lacked the right to harass the current government and financial institutions until it is sworn-in.

Mr Onwuemeodo said: “There is a government in place and until May 29, 2019 and that government should continue to work in the interest of the state and her people and also continue to carry out programmes and policies for the same purpose, until its tenure ends. To begin to harass or give directives to financial institutions in the state is an act of hostility and they should know that.”