Abia Assembly raises anti-graft panel
By Uche Nwosu,
special correspondent, Umuahia
The Abia State House of Assembly has
raised an anti-corruption committee.
The committee is to monitor the
activities of the leadership, members and staff of the legislature. By this,
the assembly is starting to put itself right first before checking corruption
in other quarters
“The committee is borne out of the
desire to demonstrate transparency within.” That is the verdict of the
Speaker, Mr. Stanley Ohajuruka, at a session of the assembly.
He said the committee would be empowered
to regulate all actions and conducts of every member and staff of the 24-man
legislature. This is to ensure that they fall within the ethical standards.
He asked the Clerk, Dr. Stephen Oleku, to
take necessary measures to harmonise the membership and mode of operation of
the committee prior to its inauguration.
The speaker said the assembly intends to
remain transparent in its activities, stressing that he would maintain his
policy of fairness and justice in the administration of the assembly.
The panel set up to investigate
allegations of official misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Dr. Chima
Nwafor, will soon submit its report to the assembly.
It was learnt that the seven-man panel
has almost completed its report that may be submitted in volumes next week.
A source close to the panel said it would
insist on its earlier stance not to recommend the impeachment of the Nwafor as
clarified by its chairman, Mr. Emma Nwonye during the public sittings.
During its public sitting, 23 witnesses testified. The assembly seeking to impeach Nwafor
called one witness in the person of Ohajuruka while the defendant, Nwafor,
called 22 witnesses.
