The Costly Cover-Up of a “New Abia” - Exposing Mismanagement and Misplaced Loyalties Under Governor Otti’s Watch(DOCUMENT) | #NwokeukwuMascot

 Opinion 

Shameless Cover Up Of A Drowning Administration Caught In The Act by Obinna Oriaku | #NwokeukwuMascot

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Leaning on personal opinion does not invalidate the "paddy paddy" fraud always exposed in Abia State Ministry of Justice. 

Another fraudulent activity of Abia state government was recently made pubic through  a leaked Ministry of Justice memo which revealed the level of rot and malfeasance going on under the so-called New Abia. 

Media aide to Abia  Govenor, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma who was thoroughly embarrassed how such damaging internal memo found itself to public domain, started clutching at straw in order to spin facts of the memo to falsehood, he resorted to using a private conversation from a WhatsApp group as his only defence, despite how ridiculous it sounded.

Most Abians and non Abians alike are gradually coming to terms with the reality that Abia is far from being salvaged.  It is now clear that while it could be said that other administrations used ordinary manual farm implements like hoes, shovels and diggers to scoop  Abians  resources; conversely, the current administration's looting is akin to  using 200 ton excavators, Graders and swamp buggy harvesting to embezzle Abia funds .

The attached documents speak for themselves as many discerning minds have come to the informed conclusion that Alex Otti’s govt is populated with empty heads who are  over-rated.

1) The first document dated 22nd August 2023 revealed that the Atthony General of Abia state wrote to the Governor requesting the engagement and payment of N60million to the law firm of Ken Ahia and Associates  for negotiation and drafting of legal agreement of Port Harcourt road/ Asa Aba . I will want to ask and at same time tutor members of the current government on the workings of government and their rules which must be kept irrespective of the reforms.

The Attorney General is the chief law officer of the state, his responsibility covers drafting of agreements on behalf of the state among other functions. Why outsource that basic responsibility?

Does it mean the Attorney General is empty and lacks the capacity to run that office hence outsourcing of his responsibility is the only option ?

It is my considered opinion having served under many administrations that outsourcing the main function of the legal officer to a private lawyer is a misnomer, and an aberration that has never been done in any other state in Nigeria except Abia where conflict of interest is core policy of government. 

It also means we are subsidising his incompetence on that role as we have lost N50m to mediocre in a technocrat driven administration. 

2) Is it possible that the Attorney General deliberately wants to assist his friend and benefactor by out-sourcing his core function just to grease the palms of his benefactor while Abians bear the brunt. 

This is the first time in history that an AG will out-source his basic function.  At the Federal level, Ministries and Agencies all have their legal departments whose responsibility is to draft agreement and other functions .  We just signed the subsidiary loan agreement of the $115 Islamic bank , it was signed by civil servants in legal department of Federal Minstry of finance Abuja. 

In Abia we have a full fledged legal drafting department headed by a seasoned Director Mrs Uwaoma Ajike with over 240 lawyers with many of whom are more than 30 years post call under the supervision of the Solicitor General of Abia state and Attorney General..Why outsource ,if it's not settlement or money sharing with the good  boys .

The Attorney General's request to Governor included negotiating as part of the mandate of 50m hired lawyers firm. And I ask, what does the law firm that drafted the agreement know about negotiations of  engineering works . What happened to the inputs from  state Minstry of works in that agreement.

The second document dated 5th October 2023 written by the AG shows instruction to the COS which I presume is the Chief of staff to ensure payment .

It is known fact that under the public service procurement law, any amount from N50m goes to F&GPC ( Finance and General purpose committee) whose chairman is the Commissioner for Finance while the Secretary is  the SSG with The Attorney General and others as members. Any amount below N50m goes through Ministerial tenders board . In all case , the procurement needed to be advertised.

Therefore, appointing the law firm of Ken Ahia without going through the public procurement process is pure  misappropriation in public procurement and it is treated as a criminal offence. There are many questions begging for answer. 

When was this contract advertised, How many people bidded for this job. How did the Attorney General arrive at N60m offered for an writing agreement,  Was this N50m a one-off payment or is the law firm responsible for all the legal drafting in Abia since inception this administration.  Is the law fair under retainership for the job of civil servants . How much do they charge per agreement and what determines such charges .

It is disturbing that this N60m agreement drafting fee is in respect of controversial 5.8 km Port Harcourt road which resulted in the Arise TV national embarrassment where same Ekeoma told the world that the cost of the project was N35b but that Julius Berger gave a concession of N2b as if public procurement is like negotiating crayfish and Ose at Afo- ule in Aba . Empty and overrated heads under new Abia .

Is Ferdinand aware that the state is being denied its internal Generated revenue by outsourcing this core function as the legal drafting department is Statutorily empowered to charge 1% of contract sum.  We have been denied such fee instead Abia lost N50m under "chop , I chop" totalling N80m.

In 2023 Account General report Abia spent N5.2b as personnel cost for workers under ministry of Justice and Judiciary, is it still necessary to retain these workers since their core function has been outsourced. 

We spent N7b on capacity building of Abia civil servants as shown in the financials, We were told lawyers from that Ministry were flown to lagos chambers of some lawyers for refresh courses on legal drafting.  Does it mean we just wasted money or that N7b under capacity building was  written off just like N10b for zero pot holes and 6.5b recreational facility which we are yet to see till date. 

Why did the Attorney General circumvent the process by writing straight to the Chief of staff whereas the conveyance was supposed to come from the chief of staff or Principal secretary to the Governor to the Ministry of Justice who will now raise voucher for the Accountant General for payment. 

Is it possible these spurious  transactions were being hidden from the eagle eyes of impoverished civil servants 

On the straw the media aide was trying hard to hold, the Governor can only appoint an external solicitor especially if it is full legal matter, Like when Abia was in court with River state over oil block issues, However, it's payment process must be validated by the executive council, before such rectification, F& GPC must have approved it before presentation at executive council.  Can Ekeoma show us evidence of exco approval before payment .

Government has process and that is why it is called bureaucracy.  Due process must be followed. Even the Federal Executive council during administration of Buhari  will always rectify and approve any legal engagement of former Attorney General of the federation Abubaka Malami SAN.

This Government should know that the wool is gradually falling off as many have come to the realization that we were scammed under NEW Abia.

Within  the last few months, people are now bold enough to question the fraud going in in Abia .

We must demand accountability from the Government..I am happy Ferdinand Ekeoma did not deny the authenticity of those documents when they are needed we will demand for certified true copy. 

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