The people of Ukwa Federal constituency have accused the member representing Ukwa Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rep. Uzoma Nkem Abonta of alleged criminal diversion of N1,418,000,000 meant for Ukwa Federal Constituency.
In an eight pages document addressed to Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as other anti-graft agencies and sighted by newsmen, Ukwa people, under the auspices of Ukwa Leadership Accountability Association (ULAA) said: “We view with great concern, the gross misapproporiation and diversion of public fund by Hon. Uzoma Nkem Abonta, specifically, the misappropriation of Zonal Intervention Project (ZIP) fund in Ukwa federal constituency worth over N1,418,000,000.00K between 2014 and 2022.
The petition jointly signed by the BOT Chairman of the group, Dr. Chidi Nwankpa, FNIMN, BOT member, Bishop Christian Nwosu and the group’s legal adviser, K.O. Ajuzieogu, Esq among others, urged the anti graft agency to thoroughly investigate the award, contractor(s), beneficiaries, locations and appropriation of fund to the ZIP allegedly executed by Hon. Abonta.
They demanded to know the locations of the two ultra modern police stations in Ukwa federal constituency fully funded and money released by the Federal Government of Nigeria via the zip in 2017 with code, ZIP 2646.
The document further reads: “ULAA also demand to know the location of the two (2) sports centres (mini-stadium) for Ukwa Federal constituency awarded in 2020 with the code, ZIP 1514, fund fully paid and supposedly executed by Hon Uzoma Nkem Abonta and his nominated contractors.
“ULAA further demand to know the beneficiaries of the entrepenuership project on fish farming for women and youths of Ukwa-East Local Government Area in 2017 with the code; zip 559 worth (Fifty Million Naira) N50,000,000.00 facilitated through NAPTIP/Ministry of Justcie.
“We also demand to know the lcoation/site of the two (2) town halls for Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government Areas captured as ZIP projects for Ukwa Federal Constituency in 2020 with the code; ZIP 513 valued at (Fifty Million Naira) N50,000,000.00 fully funded by Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Lottery Trust Fund/Ministry of Special Duties.
“We further demand to know the beneficiaries of the Agric Training and empowerment start up program in Ukwa East. The programme is contained in 2021 Zonal Intervention Project, with the code, zip 1475, facilitated through National Lottery Trust Fund/Ministry of Special Duties for Ukwa Federal Constituency at the cost of (Thirty Five Million Naira) N35,000,000.00K
“ULAA demand to know the location of the Ambulance for Ukwa East Local Government Area captured in 2021 in Zonal Intervention Project with the code; zip 1477 at the cost of (Forty Million Naira) N40,000,000.00 and facilitated through National Lottery Trust Fund/Ministry of Special duties”.
They alleged that money meant for those projects were embezzled by the Federal Lawmaker as they said projects were never executed and cannot be found anywhere in Ukwa Federal constituency.
They challenged the legisator to disclose the beneficiaries and lcoations of the said projects if he argued otherwise.
They called on ICPC and other anti-graft agencies to ensure that justice is done in the matter to forestall further dissipation of fund meant for the common good of the Ukwa Federal constituents.
In his response, the member representing Ukwa Federal Constituency at National Assembly, Rep Uzoma Abonta, when contacted via a telephone call, claimed ignorant of the matter and declined further comments.
