Stakeholders from Ebonyi State have called on Governor Francis Nwifuru to immediately relieve the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Grace Umezuruike, of her duties following a court order granting interim forfeiture of an alleged N1 billion she reportedly diverted.
The demand was made in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the President of the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora (AEISCID), Pascal Oluchukwu. Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court granted the interim forfeiture order on July 8, 2025, following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC alleged that the SSG and an aide diverted state funds to six different accounts domiciled in United Bank for Africa. Four of the accounts are allegedly owned by Umezuruike, one of which held N1.014 billion in the aide’s name, and another linked to Affordable Multi Services Nigeria Limited.
The funds in question were reportedly meant for purchasing bags of rice for Ebonyi residents during the 2024 Christmas celebrations. Despite the gravity of the allegations, Governor Nwifuru, during a church service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki, said his administration would not rush to conclusions based on the court’s ruling.
Reacting to this stance, Oluchukwu expressed disappointment and questioned how such massive corruption could occur in a state facing widespread poverty. “We are thoroughly ashamed of the disposition of the state government towards this grave allegation that has very severe and negative consequences for the State and Ebonyi people, home and in the diaspora,” he said.
Oluchukwu praised social critic Nwoba Chika for his petition to the EFCC, which led to the investigation and freezing of the implicated accounts. He urged the governor to remove the SSG within 48 hours to ensure a “thorough, discreet and unhindered probe” by the EFCC.
“What else does the governor, who claims to be a lawyer, need to understand that once a prima facie case has been established, leading to the freezing of the said accounts for a forfeiture of the diverted funds, the SSG should have been asked to step aside immediately? This is a common ethical and standard practice that is well in accordance with the principles of transparency, accountability and probity in governance,” he said.
The group further advised the Ebonyi government to seek legal standing in the forfeiture suit in order to recover the funds if they are proven to belong to the state.AEISCID also called on the EFCC to broaden its probe to include contractors who may have siphoned public funds in the last two years and during the preceding administration.
Source: https://punchng.com/
