Stanley Ihedigbo
Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, (FENRAD) has expressed concern with the worrisome development, as obtained from online media publication, on an alleged illegal auctioning of vehicles by Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) in Abia State.
According to the Executive Director, FENRAD, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor’s statement, 17 vehicles meant to serve the seventeen Local Government Areas of within the state were without due process, sold off at the auctioned price of N317,000. 00.
He noted that the developments were not declared as “Beyond Economic Recovery” (BER – when vehicles are no longer economically viable for sale).
Nwafor further noted that the State House of Assembly’s Committee on Public Accounts, Anti-corruption and Due Process is currently investigating the issue, headed by the Committee leader, Hon. Barr. Jerry Uzosike.
“FENRAD is aware the House minority leader, Mr. Chukwu Chijioke, affirmed that no stone shall be left unturned in the ongoing investigation. Barring the absenting of affected parties – mostly staff of Ministry of Transport and those from Government House – the hearing, now postponed, would have held.
“In all fairness, honesty and Probity FENRAD wants SEMB to show any auctioning advertorial published online or on any national daily authorising the said auctioning and the Reports and pictorial evidence of the Auctioning and show also how buses parked at Ministry of Agriculture also got allegedly sold off or missing without due process.
“We would also like to know if, after the sales of the vehicles, monies – in the form of proceeds – were channeled to the state coffers through Board of Internal Revenue ( BIR) . FENRAD establishes that as an advocacy group it is seeking for justice for common good, Promote Accountability and transparency and ensure public properties are channeled for personal use, he stated.
FENRAD boss urged the seventh assembly to make sure that the last, and even least, of the very matter is heard, addressed and justice served.
“We wants SEMB, state house officials, ministries of agriculture and transport to tell Abians how these vehicles for school bus and public transport purposes (commuting) got missing all of a sudden to exonerate from the illegal Auctioning, only justice will do,” he advised.
