The Commissioner For Environment Engineer. Felix Odimegwu and the Transition Chairman of Onitsha South Hon. Emeka Orji on Tuesday appeared before Anambra Assembly to clarify allegations brought against them following the resolution of the lawmakers last week to that effect.
Angel Network News reported that the lawmakers last Thursday summoned the duo after the member representing Onitsha South one constituency Hon. Fred Ezenwe through a matter of urgent importance draw the attention of the lawmakers to the alligations against them.
According to Hon. Ezenwe, the allagations are of intimidation, harrisement and arrest of waste contractors.
Anambra Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon Somtochukwu Udeze said the appearance of Onitsha South TC Chairman was to clearly define his work boundary, tame his attitude to work and imbibe discipline in the discharge of his duties and not recklessness in making decisions.
To this effect, Rt. Hon. Udeze asked the TC Chairman to appear before a Special Committee on Revenue Mobilization to clarify the activities of revenue collection and waste management contractors in Onitsha South LGA.
Speaking to house correspondents after plenary in an interview, Hon. Fred Ezenwe said a revenue was giving to Onitsha South constituency to facilitate and the moment the facilitator entred the field, the chairman of Onitsha South LGA bounced on them. Embound their vehicle, took them to the local government and handed them over to the police in Fegge police station.
” The driver was locked up and it took the intervention of a lot of people before he was released that night on bail.
“The facilitator, reported the matter to me and asked him to call the commissioner who gave him the revenue to facilitate.
” I called the commissioner, who explained everything. In the past, the government of Anambra state use to pay facilitators but now, the government decided to use the ‘pay direct system’ which the government has seen as to be a very nice way of handling the revenue point.
” That was the reason the commissioner gave the revenue point to JK Okechukwu Anadozie Industry International to facilitate.
” When the commissioner explained this to me very well, i was left with no other option than to get it sorted out because the TC Chairman persisted that it is his revenue window.
” The facilitator wrote to the house of assembly and am not here to witchhunt anybody but to sort it out”.
Commissioner For Environment Engr Odimegwu while speaking said both him and the Transition Chairman of Onitsha South Hon. Emeka Orji are working with one agenda which is to promote a clean health environment in accordance with the mission and vision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Odimegwu revealed that the matter has been sorted out and that the ministry of environment is focused on achiving the goals of the present administration.
The house adjourned to Thursday February 8th 2024.
