Justice Bello Kawu of a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting at Apo, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch a probe into how funds allocated to 17 local government areas in Abia State from 2019 to 2023, were utilized.
Justice Kawu made the order upon an ex-parte application drawn from a suit by an activist, Chidiebere Ojukwu, who identified himself as a citizen of Abia State and an advocate for transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
Defendants in the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/4961/2024 are the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Rt. Hon. Prince Christopher Enweremadu; Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a former aide to the immediate past Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; as well as the Permanent Secretary attached to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Deaconess Joy Nwanju.
The EFCC is the 4th Defendant in the matter.
In the ruling, Justice Kawu also directed the EFCC to deposit with its registry, Certified True Copy (CTC) of its investigation report or the detailed status of the funds allocated to the LGAs within the four years.
In addition, the Judge ordered the seizure of international travelling documents of the three defendants, who were former officials of Abia State government.
Justice Kawu adjourned the matter to December 9, adding that all the processes must be served on the EFCC.
Meantime, the court approved the abridgement of time within which the matter would be heard.
