Abia assembly: Apugo, EFCC set to probe government officials – Ichita

The supremacy battle rocking the Abia State House of Assembly has shown no sign of abating as the House Committee on Anti-Corruption and Public Accounts, in partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and relevant security agencies, is set to commence probe on various “elected and appointed officials of Government”.

This is contained in a release issued on Thursday by the new Chairman of the committee and member representing Aba South state constituency, Hon. Obinna Ichita (APGA).

Ichita who was appointed Wednesday by the new factional Speaker of the House, Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, said the Committee had two weeks to submit its report to the House adding that the Committee had received avalanche of petitions against both elected and appointed officials, and declared the readiness of the Committee to treat all the petitions with dispatch.

According to the release made available to newsmen, various Ministries, Department and agencies will be communicated on the days to appear before the committee for grilling as the petitions affect them.

Both Chinedum Orji and Apugo are still laying claims to the speakership of the House.

According to Ichita, 16 lawmakers are with Apugo, even as he denied that the lawmakers were being sponsored by anybody, saying they only wanted the right things to be done.

Orji was accused of locking the Assembly complex for four months and failing to convene the House while there were urgent legislative matters that needed the inputs of the lawmakers.

But Orji had through his Chief Press Secretary Jude Ndukwe denied the allegations, saying it was the collective decision of the lawmakers to go on break after the elections stressing that he remains the Speaker.