Lawmakers of the Imo state House of Assembly on Monday June 17, 2019, began the process of recovery of stolen state government properties.
The speaker, Rt. Hon (Dr) Chiji Collins, who spoke to journalists in Owerri after the 27 newly inaugurated lawmakers inspected facilities belonging to the Assembly, said that apart from the complex being in an “unbelievable sorry and deplorable state”, the lawmakers had set up a committee to begin the recovery of stolen state government properties, including lands.
Rt. Hon. Collins who decried the poor condition of the Assembly complex, the speaker and deputy speaker’s lodges, said that logistics are needed to undertake the immediate rehabilitation of the facilities.
The speaker said “we have finished touring the House of Assembly Complex, the speaker’s lodge and that of the deputy speaker. The level of decay is highly unbelievable. The complex was renovated last year but it is very unfortunate that it has broken down with cracks up and down. It is clear that those who undertook the renovation work, did a very poor and shoddy job”.
“But beyond the dilapidated state of the complex, we have set up a committee to begin the recovery of stolen government properties belonging to the Imo State House of Assembly”.
The speaker said that the lawmakers were ready to ensure that every government property illegally taken by people were recovered.
He said that under his watch, the lawmakers would engage in legislative activities that would advance the fortunes of the state.
With the threat to recover House of Assembly properties, some of the occupants of the “Heros’ Apartment”, which hitherto belonged to Imo State House of Assembly before it was renovated by the outgone government of Rochas through Chinwe’s Akano’s properties LTD, and shared among friends of the government, are already jittery.
One of them who spoke to our reporter revealed how he had paid in huge sums of money to government agent before the expiration of the Rescue Mission Government. According to him, he was assured that the “purpose clause” of the land and houses were changed hence the buildings are now free for all to acquire.
However, the 8th Imo Assembly under Rt. Hon. Chinedu Offor, before winding up passed a resolution urging the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s administration to recover and return the legislative quarters to the Assembly service commission while it rightly belonged.
