A concerned stakeholder in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Prince Cajetan Ogbonna has demanded that the chairman of the local government area, Hon. Ugochukwu Nwanjoku should account for the funds amounting to over one billion Naira.
Ogbonna said this included statutory allocation, as well as N800 million borrowed from a commercial bank, without any tangible project to show for it.
In an article he wrote, titled: ‘Where is Aninri funds: Citizen asks council chairman, Nwanjoku’, he said time had come for the council chairman to explain to the people what he had done with the funds entrusted to his care.
According to him, rather than channel resources to the development of the council, Njoku had allegedly focused on his private interests.
He accused Nwanjoku of using the council funds to build a personal empire to the detriment of the common good of the people, and then demanded that the chairman should come clean and explain to the people of the area what he had done with their money.
He listed major areas of concern to include: no commissioned project throughout his administration; demolished 5 buildings within the Secretariat and is constructing one; Running a government of himself and family alone; took a loan to build his personal house at Oduma; Owing councillors their allowances, including wardrobe and sitting allowances, among others.
According to him, “Hon. Nwanjoku is accused of building a personal housing estate on the finances that accrued to the local government. He is said to have completed his estate but neglected to complete government projects. And what is more, the chairman was accused of having acquired so much within one year without anything tangible to show, yet the council continues to receive Federal Allocations as well as the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
Nwanjoku never had any tangible business, was not known among the rich in the local government but has become stupendously rich within one year in office and wondered how?
“Today, more than one year into the tenure of Hon. Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, the question is simple, lawful, and unavoidable: Where are our monthly allocations?
“From Poverty to Power, and Suddenly to Prosperity – Let us begin with a truth that the people of Aninri know too well.
“Before becoming Chairman, Hon. Ugochukwu Nwanjoku was not a wealthy man. He was not known for large businesses. He did not own estates. He was not counted among the financially established men of the local government.
“The people know this. The villages know it. The streets know it. Yet, within one year in office, a transformation has occurred that would embarrass even the most aggressive private entrepreneur.
“Is this the miracle of public service? Or the mathematics of public funds?
“The only project started and completed within one year is not a public school, not a health centre, not a road, not a market. It is the Chairman’s alleged private estate in Oduma. And what an estate it is.
“Situated on a vast expanse of land, land that reportedly swallowed and demolished an existing private school, the property stands like a monument, not to service, but to sudden wealth.
“Within its high walls are: Multiple modern residential structures; Luxury interior finishing of premium quality; A fully built swimming pool; Extensive landscaping Interlocked and well-paved access roads leading exclusively to the compound; Security architecture befitting a government facility; The estimated value? Not less than N600 million.
“Mr. Chairman, how does a man who was not wealthy build a N600 million estate within one year of public office? Is this salary? Is this personal business profit? Or is Aninri’s allocation building private comfort?
“The Oduma estate is only the beginning. It is widely alleged that an apartment in a prime area of Enugu is nearing completion. A house in the United States has been acquired through a relative. The Chairman now maintains a fleet of vehicles. Cars have reportedly been given out as gifts to relatives.
