Gov. Otti Receives Final Report of Judicial Panel of Inquiry, Vows to Act Decisively

Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged that his administration will treat the final report of the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Government Properties, Funds, and Related Matters with utmost seriousness.

Governor Otti clarified that the establishment of the panel was not intended as a tool for vendetta or witch-hunting but rather as a means of setting the record straight and ensuring accountability.

This assurance was conveyed in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, which detailed the governor’s receipt of the panel’s final report.

The report was officially submitted at the Governor’s Office in Umuahia, the state capital, by the chairperson of the panel, Hon. Justice Florence Duroha-Igwe (Rtd) and members of the committee.

Governor Otti further disclosed that a committee has already been constituted to produce the White Paper based on the panel’s findings, and the final report will be handed over to them for immediate action.

“One thing I can confirm to you is that we are going to take this report very seriously. As the Honourable Attorney General has said, these two volumes will be immediately dispatched to the Committee on the Production of the White Paper, which will serve as an official instrument,”

“I am aware that the White Paper Committee has already been working on previously submitted volumes. These new ones will also be sent to them to flesh out the remaining issues that need to be addressed,” he added.

Emphasizing the intention behind the panel’s formation, Governor Otti reiterated:“The setting up of this Judicial Panel of Inquiry had nothing to do with vendetta or scapegoating. We simply needed to understand what transpired. As we had said long ago, there was no proper handover, and for a long time, we were groping for information.”

“But that’s in the past. We’ve now been in office for two years. Still, many people had genuine concerns which, in a democracy, deserve to be heard and investigated,” he explained.

Governor Otti expressed his gratitude to the Chairperson and members of the panel for their dedication and hard work over the past two years and several months, acknowledging that the duration of the process had exceeded expectations.

“We did not anticipate that the process would take this long. We also didn’t expect the volume of petitions and memoranda. As you noted when you submitted the initial reports, over 70 petitions had not yet been considered.”

“We felt it would be unfair to disregard the efforts of citizens who took the time to present their perspectives. That’s why we extended your mandate,” Otti said.

Earlier, while presenting the final report, the panel’s Chairperson, Hon. Justice Florence Duroha-Igwe (Rtd), disclosed that out of the 350 petitions and memoranda received, the panel was able to hear and conclude on 278.

“Your Excellency graciously directed us to return to work to review the remaining 72 petitions and memoranda, emphasizing that no Abian should be denied a fair hearing,” Justice Duroha-Igwe noted.

She further informed the Governor that the final submission comprises two volumes , an addendum to the main report and an addendum to the proceedings. She also expressed her appreciation to the Governor for the opportunity to serve the state in such a critical capacity.

Also present at the event were the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, and other senior government officials.