100 stolen Vehicles recovered by Imo state Government

IMO State government has recovered more than 100 vehicles allegedly carted away by public office holders of the immediate past regime in the state.
State Recovers 100 Vehicles 'Stolen' By Former Public Officers.Chairman of the task force on recovery of public properties, Dr. Placid Ekwueme, disclosed this to journalists in Owerri at the weekend.

Ekwueme, who briefed reporters alongside the secretary of the committee, Larry Ajaero, however exonerated the immediate past governor, Ikedi Ohakim, of carting away government vehicles.

Instead, he accused him of allegedly approving the use of public funds for the purchase of several Toyota Camry cars, which were distributed as gifts to politicians.

Ekwueme vowed that his committee would recover all such vehicles, promising also that the source of purchase of any vehicle seized would be ascertained.

According to him, a debt of about N100 million hangs on the neck of the present administration, while the dealer who sold the cars has begun to make demands for payment.

The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Blyden Amajiruowu, last week, alerted the public that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), led by Chief Rochas Okorocha, is using the task force to hunt PDP officials, including the Organising Secretary of the party in the state, Chief Linus Iroha.

He disclosed that the task force also recovered some vehicles from the a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, adding that a past Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, allegedly carted away seven government vehicles, of which three have been recovered.

According to him, the matter is in court, and the committee will not do anybody any harm, but  "we will take government cars any where they are parked."        The task force chairman disclosed that at inauguration, his committee had a list of about 34 former office holders who took away government properties.

He regretted that after a two-week grace period and failure to cooperate, the task force had no option but to enforce its mandate.