The Ebonyi State Government has rejected reports alleging that Governor Francis Nwifuru ordered the arrest of five commissioners over the delay in delivering two state housing projects.
The claim was described as false and baseless by Chief Donatus Ilang, Chairman of the Ebonyi Executive Council (EXCO) Committee on Supervision and Completion of the Housing Projects.
Ilang, who is also the Commissioner for Border, Peace, and Conflict Resolution, issued the statement in Abakaliki, emphasizing that no commissioner had been arrested.
He assured the public that such reports were fabricated and were not based on facts. Ilang further explained that the state government had expressed dissatisfaction with the delays in the housing projects but had not taken any drastic measures such as arrests.
The housing projects involve the construction of 140 housing units for displaced communities in the Izzo and Amaze areas of the Ishielu Local Government Area, which were affected by the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal conflict.
Ilang stated that the government had urged the responsible commissioners to provide the necessary information to address the delays and resolve the issues with contractors.
He also highlighted the governor’s commitment to ensuring the projects’ completion, noting that these housing units were part of a broader effort to assist the affected communities.
The government, he added, was determined to follow through with its intentions and would not allow any further delays.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Command has also weighed in on the matter, confirming that no commissioners were arrested in connection with the housing project delays.
In an interview with NAN, DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, assured the public that no arrests had taken place and that the allegations were completely false.
He reiterated that while the governor had expressed frustration over the project delays, no legal action had been taken against any officials involved.