Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has officially received the final report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Government Properties, Funds, and Related Matters. The report was submitted by the panel led by retired Justice Florence Duroha-Igwe at Government House, Umuahia, on Tuesday.
Governor Otti clarified that the panel was not established to witch-hunt or target individuals but to uncover the truth about state assets and financial matters. “The judicial panel of inquiry was never about vendetta or scapegoating. We needed clarity on what happened due to the lack of a proper handover, and many citizens had genuine concerns that deserved to be heard,” he said.
He assured that the Abia State Government would act on the panel’s findings, revealing that a White Paper Production Committee has already been constituted to review and implement the recommendations. “We are taking this report very seriously. The two volumes of the report will be dispatched to the White Paper Committee to address all the issues raised,” he stated.
Governor Otti commended the panel for its dedication over the past two years. He acknowledged the unexpected volume of public petitions, noting that more than 70 submissions were initially left unattended. “It would have been unfair to ignore citizens who took time to present their concerns. This extension allowed the panel to address all petitions comprehensively,” he said.
Presenting the report, Justice Duroha-Igwe disclosed that the panel received a total of 350 petitions and memoranda, out of which 278 were fully heard and concluded. The report was submitted in two volumes — an addendum to the main report and an addendum to the proceedings. She thanked the Governor for the opportunity to serve Abia State.
Also in attendance during the submission were the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, and other senior government officials.
