Abia govt gives EFCC nod to investigate female staff, son over fraud, stealing

Following an invitation to some Staff of Abia State Ministry of Finance by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abia State Government says, the invitation to the State Commissioner for Finance, Obinna Oriaku was to shed light on some of the issues raised by the petitioner.

The staff are: Mrs. Charity Ukonu of the Audit Department of the Abia State Civil Service and her son, Mr. Chinenye Victor Ukonu.

In a petition to the EFCC titled “A case of fraud and stealing of State/Public funds by Mrs. Charity N. Ukonu and Mr. Chinenye V. Ukonu; civil servants and staff of State Audit Department and Bureau of Statistics of Abia State Civil Service respectively” by a serving staff of Abia State Civil Service Commission, Barr. Guy Chigoziri Okite,

who is a Commissioner in the commission, alleged that Charity Ukonu and her crony and son, Chinenye Ukonu used her office as a member of a purported State Salary Enhancement and Audit Committee to defraud, embezzle and to steal monies from the State/Public funds designated for salaries.

However, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the state Commissioner for Information, who disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists in Umuahia added that all the staff invited by the EFCC work in the payroll unit of the state ministry of finance.

According to him, “The administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has zero tolerance for corruption and has long been adjudged the most transparent in the country. We therefore welcome scrutiny by relevant agencies of the State into our transactions, within the ambit of the law.

“The thrust of the ongoing investigation is centred on the 2017 annual report of the State audit team with the contentious issue already withdrawn by the same audit unit when presented with relevant facts concerning their observations.

“Governor Ikpeazu expects all employees of the government to carry out their official functions with the highest level of transparency, professionalism and also be prepared to give account to relevant institutions and the people of the state upon demand.

“We expect officials of EFCC to conduct their investigation professionally, in line with their constitutional mandate and those found culpable punished according to the law”.

Barr Okite had in part written “Sir, having exhausted several means of trying to call Mrs. Charity N. Ukonu to order or check her excesses, like bringing complaints personally to the Commissioner for Finance, officially bringing complaints to the Chairman and fellow members of the Abia State Civil Service Commission,

bringing complaints to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, and even complaining to the office of the Auditor General of the State and all of which complaints yielded no positive outcome. All of whom confirm that Charity Ukonu is out of control and this makes me afraid of her boasts.

“I therefore bring this case of stealing and embezzlement to your office knowing that you work with integrity and without fear or favour.

I know also that your office has done everything to show that you cannot be compromised. I crave you therefore, to use your good offices to do a careful and thorough investigation with the facts I have hereinabove presented to you including the documents herein attached and the quoted bank account statements of the duo of Mrs. Charity N. Ukonu and Mr. Chinenye V. Ukonu. Your deep and thorough investigation shall reveal more”.