Umahi suspends FADAMA Coordinator

Africa Press-Nigeria:

Barley 24 hours after he suspended two Auditors-General, Ebonyi Governor David Umahi, has suspended the State Coordinator of FADAMA 111, Dr. Cletus Nwakpu.

Nwakpu’s suspension was announced during a virtual State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor, who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

Umahi explained Nwakpus’ suspension followed a report presented by the State Fiscal Responsibility Commission, which indicted him of financial misappropriation and other acts against the oath of office.

He directed Secretary to the State government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala to take over the office in acting capacity.

He ordered the Head of Service, Dr. Chamberlain Nwele, to discipline Nwakpu as a civil servant through civil service rules.

The Governor further gave the Fiscal Responsibility Commission seven days to recover all the monies from Nwakpu.

He charged the Commission to petition the EFCC to take over the matter and also prosecute Nwakpu if he fails to remit the embezzled funds within seven days.

The report, which was read at the meeting read: “Dr Cletus Nwakpu, directed the opening of an account with the name of Ebonyi State FADAMA Production Cluster with Polaris Bank PLC, formerly called Skye Bank PLC and the project account has signatories and which money contributed by the farmers as captured in 2007 FADAMA Projects were deposited contrary to the financial regulation guiding the implementation of FADAMA project.