12 ex-Imo LG chairmen face EFCC probe over alleged diversion of N118.1bn

The quick previous chairmen of the 12 native authorities areas in Orlu Zone of Imo State are going through accountability checks as a bunch beneath the aegis of Orluzurumee Youth Assembly, OYA, has requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to research the alleged diversion and embezzlement of roughly N118.1 billion allotted to the councils between September 2024 and June 2026.

The petition was filed by the group’s lawyer, Emmanuel Chiagoziem Osi.

The group mentioned the petition was formally acquired and acknowledged by the Office of the EFCC Executive Chairman on 12 October 2026.

OYA mentioned the petition grew to become crucial following unsuccessful efforts to acquire monetary information from the council chairmen by way of formal requests made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

The lawyer, Osi, said that OYA had sought particulars of allocations acquired by the councils and the way the funds have been utilised throughout the interval beneath evaluate.

Speaking on the petition, the National President of OYA, Prince Izunna Obiefule, mentioned the motion was meant to make sure that the previous council chairmen account for the general public funds entrusted to their respective administrations.

Obiefule defined that OYA approached the EFCC to hunt an impartial investigation into the administration of the funds in a bid to strengthen the rules of transparency, accountability and accountable public management.

He expressed concern that, regardless of the substantial allocations reportedly acquired by the councils, many communities throughout Orlu Zone continued to expertise insufficient street infrastructure, restricted entry to potable water and electrical energy, poorly geared up healthcare services, deteriorating faculties and inadequate alternatives for youth empowerment.

According to him, the situation of public infrastructure throughout a number of communities within the zone raises official questions on how public funds are being utilised by these in authority.

“The concern of the Orluzurumee Youth Assembly is that these funds may have been subjected to diversion through fictitious awarded contracts, or payments for projects that were never executed,” Obiefule said.

He pressured that the allegations required correct investigation by the related authorities and referred to as for a clear examination of the councils’ monetary information, contracts, undertaking execution stories and fee paperwork.

The OYA president additionally urged political leaders and different public workplace holders throughout the zone to make sure that public funds beneath their management are totally accounted for and deployed in direction of social companies and programmes that deal with the wants of the folks.

OYA maintained that public allocations have been held in belief for the folks and needs to be managed in accordance with relevant legal guidelines and rules of economic accountability.

The group reiterated its dedication to selling transparency, good governance and sustainable improvement throughout the 12 LGAs within the zone.