Politics
Defeated APC Presidential Aspirant & Re-Election Seeking Gov Of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha Faces Probe Over Handling Of N17b Oil Derivation Fund
…oil producing areas leaders accused of complicity
Rochas Okorocha, the Imo state helmsman who suffered defeat in quest to become the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress and rushed back to reclaim the party’s mandate – to re contest as governor -from his temporarily fill in the void son in law,Uche Nwosu is facing fresh challenges.
Questions are being asked about how he handled an accumulated N17B oil derivation funds paid by the Federal Government to for the development of all producing areas in Imo state.
The total sum is said to cover the period of May 2011 to December 2013.
Mr Okorocha assumed position as Governor of Imo state in May 2011.
Gov Rochas Okorochas
Questioners of whether the funds were diverted of put to judicious use base their enquiries on what obtains in the supposed beneficiary communities of Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta – development is alleged far from being felt in these areas.
According to Kenneth Nwadi, one of the vociferous voices championing probe of Okorocha over the issue ‘The monies have developed wings’.
The Coordinator, Youths Against Human Rights Violation and Corrupt Practises partly hinged his assertion on claims ‘Thousands of Ndi-Imo still live without access to good food, housing, good roads, water, electricity and healthcare…. Power supply is non-existent in the 13 Egbema towns. Since Governor Rochas Okorocha came into power in 2011, the people of Egbema have not seen electricity. Yet on monthly basis 13 percent oil derivation fund is paid to Imo State for the development of the oil producing areas in Imo. Out of this 13 percent oil derivation found 40 percent is meant for ISOPADEC, the commission set up to develop Imo oil areas. Where are the monies?’.
According to information available to societynowng.com, the breakdown of the funds released to Imo state by the Federal Government through the Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ISOPADEC) between May 2011 and December 2013 is given as
‘May 2011
N278,919,682.00
June 2011
N491,415,545.00
July 2011
N607,508,024.40
August 2011
N691479700.1
September 2011
N650318411.4
October 2011
N742,626,299.53
November 2011
N506556992.7
December 2011
N513122495.7
January 2012
N624755732.8
February 2012
N430283610
March 2012
N495,802,869
April 2012
N530,948,180.82
May 2012
N414,451,615.90
June 2012
N557,851,267.36
July 2012
N441286601.6
August 2012
N563593288.1
September 2012
N436,366,936.76
October 2012
N507,915,584.96
November 2012
N453147887.2
December 2012
N433,746,138.22
January 2013
N548,284,488.83
Febuary 2013
N433,812,735.87
March 2013
N548908424.6
April 2013
N702685396.7
May 2013
N536243879.4
June 2013
N533,171,999.86
July 2013
N465,435,601.16
August 2013
N464,118,297.86
September 2013
N596,526,274.32
October 2013
N702681346.1
November 2013
N439,814,732.12
December 2013
N548,908,424.70’
What is said to have spurred increased agitation for probe of how the money is spent is alleged ironic silence of leaders of the affected areas on the state of their communities in the face of release of such mega fund.
According to Kenneth ‘It is so sad to note that leaders from Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta where Imo oil money comes from are not speaking about the comatose ISOPADEC. Schools, water, road and hospital rehabilitation in Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta which forms part of the duties of ISOPADEC remains in their same dilapidated state.’