Posted by By GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka on
Drama played out on Wednesday at the Anambra State House of Assembly, when the Chairman of Oyi Local Government Transition Committee, Mr. Tony Jiendu affirmed that he was a fraud.
•As Anambra House investigates alleged fraud
Drama played out on Wednesday at the Anambra State House of Assembly, when the Chairman of Oyi Local Government Transition Committee, Mr. Tony Jiendu affirmed that he was a fraud.
Jiendu, with members of his committee and some principal officers of the local government were at the House to answer questions over a petition by one of the transition committee members alleging illegal auctioning of property of the council and removal of the secretary.
The council boss, who confirmed to the House that his committee was dissolved in July, said he was still working because he has not handed over to anybody.
After about three lawmakers had questioned him, he was asked to step aside for the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Peter Ofonye to take the hot seat. The council Chief was implicated by an answer given by the HOS to the effect that he approved and allowed the property of the council, including a bulldozer to be carted away.
This necessitated his return to the hot seat to answer for himself and when he could not parry the questions of Hon. Tim Egboka, he submitted to Egboka's deductions that he (Jiendu) was an embodiment of fraud.
In the heat of the matter, the following altercations ensued:
Egboka: Are you the chairman of Oyi Local Government Transition Committee?
Jiendu: Yes, but we have been dissolved.
Egboka: When were you dissolved?
Jiendu: I received the letter sometime in July, I can't remember the date, but I've not handed over.
Egboka: Why?
Jiendu: I was not directed to hand over to anybody and the HOS was not directed to take over from me, so I have been around.
Egboka: Since August, have you signed any document as chairman of the local government?
Jiendu: If I see the document, I will know whether or not I have signed.
Egboka: I said have you or not signed any document since August as chairman?
Jiendu: Ehmm Yes.
Egboka: Do you know the implication?
Jiendu: The implication is that am not supposed to have signed.
Egboka: You are a fraud.
Jiendu: Sir?
Egboka: I said you are a fraud, say yes.
Jiendu: Yes.
After other questions, the House asked them to come back for the others to be interviewed.
Earlier, the House had directed the suspension of work on the Dunukofia secretarial building until issues relating to the contact sum, bill of quantity and the collapse of some sections of the building are resolved.
The House reached the resolution following uncertified answers of the principal officers of the council when they were interviewed on the project.
The principal officers were also directed to bring to the House on or before Friday, documents concerning the project, including the bill of quantity, the letter the state government gave in respect of taking over the project and the last memo of the former chairman of the council, Mr. Albert Okafor-Odowa.
The member representing Dunukofia, Hon. Uchenna Umerie, had, weeks ago, moved a motion on the floor of the House, complaining that the secretariat structure was collapsing, and yet work were going on, on it.
When asked to comment on the project, the Head of Service, Dr. C. M. Afunugo, said they were kept in the dark about the construction of the building.
He said, "I am a member of the FNG but we were not carried along. What we know is that the state government has taken over."