Ikpeazu said to explain how World Bank funds of 27.4 billion naira were spent in Abia

Martins Ichita, a senior Abia State Assembly official representing Aba South State Constituency, asked Ikpeazu to disclose the bank details of how the state government spent the 27.4 billion naira.

The state government is using World Bank funds for road construction and erosion control in Aba, Port-Harcourt Road, Uratta Road, Obohia Road, Ohanku Road and Ngwa Road.

However, Ichita said the request for information is made under the Freedom of Information Act.

Ichita made the appeal in a letter signed by his attorney, Aloy Ejimakor.

The full text of the letter reads as follows…

Your Highness:

We are the attorneys for Honorable Obinna Martins Ichita, a Chief Officer of Abia State Assembly representing Aba South State Constituency (hereafter referred to as “our client”). We are writing this letter on behalf of our nominated client to request Your Excellency to provide us with the following information within the time limit established by applicable law:

1, The accounting details of how the Abia State Government spent the N27.4 billion (twenty-seven billion, four hundred thousand naira (or US dollar equivalent) that the Abia State Government received in full from the World Bank for the road construction and erosion control projects in Aba, especially Port-Harcourt Road, Uratta Road, Obohia Road, Ohanku Road and Ngwa Road.

2, the name and professional address(es) of the contractor(s) who has/have carried out one of the projects referred to in the previous paragraph; and copies of award documents.

3, The cost of carrying out each project.

For your convenience, Your Excellency reminds you of the following:

a) Notifying the people of Aba through a live radio show on Magic FM, Aba on 29th May 2020 that the Government of Abia State had received the above money in full and was also listed in national newspapers including the publication of the Vanguard newspaper of 20 May 2020 and the Thisday newspaper of 21 May 2020.

b) That on 7 March 2021 at the 2021 Convention and Luncheon of the N20 million Visual Studio Fund of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Aba Presbyter in St. Andrews Parish at No. 1 Azikiwe Road, Aba, Abia State, Your Excellency again publicly confirmed in full Abia State’s receipt of said money from the World Bank. Excellency, it is important to note that this request for information is made under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, which imposes strict deadlines to be met.

We therefore await your Excellency’s timely response.