Forensic audit: EFCC inviting those indicted – ABSG
Joseph Irikefe
The Abia State Government says the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, has started inviting those indicted by the forensic audit report which the state government conducted through an international audit firm, KPMG.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, disclosed this on Monday during the briefing of journalists at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.
He stated, “The EFCC has started inviting those indicted by KPMG.
“The audit is not directed on anybody, however, those involved have the opportunity to defend themselves.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, reminded that Governor Alex Otti said he was going to make the forensic audit report public, stating, that the governor was ready to do it now.
“So, we are going to release the report. We want people to read it and interpret it. The report is ready in its content,” he said.
Kanu debunked the insinuations in some quarters that the state government is embarking on further verification exercises for Abia workers.
According to him, the government only asked the workers to upload their credentials online.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, over the weekend, chided the government over another round of verification exercises.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners issued a statement stating that their executives did not represent them well during the payment of the outstanding pension arrears.
The commissioner regretted that the pensioners have been interfacing with the government over the years and did not complain when the pension arrears were paid, only to suddenly start complaining now.
“If the government has done so (payment of pension arrears) and is ready to continue paying, (government) who came to your rescue after so many years, that is not the way to show gratification.
“But while this is happening, the Concerned Pensioners went round the state, commending the state governor.
“We want to tell the people that the call by NUP is not the right thing,” he said.
He revealed that the state government has completed 79 roads through direct labour, while 23 are ongoing.