The Ebonyi State Government has strongly refuted claims that Governor Francis Nwifuru ordered the arrest of five commissioners due to delays in project delivery and breaches of contract agreements.
In a statement issued in Abakaliki, Chief Donatus Ilang, Chairman of the Ebonyi Executive Council (EXCO) Committee on Supervision and Completion of Two State Housing Projects, dismissed the reports as false and baseless. Ilang, who also serves as the Commissioner for Border, Peace, and Conflict Resolution, emphasized that no commissioner had been taken into custody and urged the public to verify the information with the police and other security agencies.
According to Ilang, the allegations originated from individuals fabricating misinformation. He clarified that the governor had only expressed his displeasure over the delayed execution of the projects and had decided to take necessary actions against those responsible for the setbacks.
The affected projects involve the construction of 140 housing units intended for the Izzo and Amaze communities, which were displaced due to the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu Local Government Area. The housing initiative was launched by the state government to provide shelter for those affected by the conflict.
Ilang further stated that the commissioners had assured the committee of their commitment to providing the necessary information for addressing lapses and holding defaulting contractors accountable. He reiterated that the governor was determined to ensure the successful completion of the housing projects for the benefit of the displaced communities.
“We gave all involved parties sufficient time to comply with the contractual agreements. Our responsibility is to actualize the governor’s vision for these communities, and we will not compromise on that,” he stated.
Additionally, the Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed that no commissioners had been arrested. DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), stated in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the command had not taken any commissioners into custody.
This clarification comes amidst recent developments in the state, including the commencement of an 8-kilometer road construction project across four villages. The Ebonyi government remains committed to ensuring the timely completion of its infrastructural initiatives despite challenges in project execution.
