Plot by Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha to dent the image of his Deputy, Eze Madumere, by allegedly roping him to a fraudulent practice over refusal to support Okorocha’s son-in-law’s governorship in 2019, Uche Nwosu has collapsed.
In a bid to whittle down the credibility and integrity of his deputy, Okorocha has allegedly detained some staff of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), with a view to forcing them into giving false and incriminating statements against Madumere on financial dealings relating to NEWMAP.
sources said Okorocha had surprisingly called for the arrest of former Project Manager of NEWMAP, Mr. Victor Anueyiagu and Andy Iheagwara Andrew, in the presence of supervising officers of NEWMAP, an action that was embarrassing to the visitors.
According to the source, Okorocha in a surprising twist allegedly threatened the victims to indict the Imo Deputy Governor, which was purported to be the only condition for their release.
The source said the visiting World Bank assisted erosion management officials had insisted the detained NEWMAP state officials be released so as not put Imo in bad light and also presenting the governor as a dictator who does not follow due process in his actions, actions that run contrary to the tradition of World renowned development agencies.
Report has it that the intervention of the visiting supervisors who insisted they would not leave until something was done led to the release of the said affected officials.
Not satisfied with Madumere’s clean bill of health, it was purported that as soon as the visitors left, Okorocha allegedly ordered for the re-arrest of the said officials to have been them frame-up the Deputy Governor with misappropriation of fund of the agency as condition for their release.
Our source revealed that the officials testified that the Deputy Governor is innocent, refusing to stand down on their statement.
Regardless, our investigation has revealed that the arrested officials have been released on bail but have continued to report to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Owerri Zonal Police headquarters. .
It will be recalled that Imo was on red in the book of international financial institutions and international donor agencies over lack of due process, procurement acts and other enabling laws with allegation of financial misappropriation in one of the health agencies.
Government House source also revealed that NEWMAP activities were stalled following perceived administrative bottlenecks, until Madumere’s intervention corrected the anomaly.
Further investigation into Deputy Governor’s relationship with NEWMAP showed that he is innocent and has never signed out financial transaction of the Project.
A staff in the office of the Deputy Governor who prefers to be anonymous said: “Imo Deputy Governor is a very meticulous person and he is not moved by money. If you like, drop Imo money on his table; he will turn a blind eye to it except it is his. And for the records, on the issue raised, he is just clean. I believe you are sent to find a way to taint the man. I am sure you will not see anything.”