The Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) has dismissed as untrue a news story (not by News Express) that Head of ISOPADEC, Barr. Mrs Elsie Okafor, is operating a secret bank account for the Commission, using Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opiah as co-signatory until this was busted by Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

ISOPADEC also discountenanced a related story that Head of Works Department in ISOPADEC, Engr. Ifeanyi Okanne, in collusion with Barr. Mrs Elsie Okafor, awarded contracts to execute projects approved by the immediate past board to Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opiah, even as he (Opiah) did not participate in the bidding process.

A release recently made in Owerri to this effect by the PRO of ISOPADEC, Ekeh Promise O., said the story is totally baseless. The release in part, reads: “ISOPADEC wishes to use this medium to deny this report in its entirety and dismiss same as fabricated, false, mischievous, misleading, unfounded and deliberately designed to not only cast slurs on the good names of these distinguished public servants; but also to deceive unsuspecting members of the public as well as create disaffection among the stakeholders of ISOPADEC.

“The public should therefore see this – together with other similarly wicked rumours – for what it actually is: the product of an active imagination which exists only in the consciousness of its authors and writers.

“In the first place, Governor Hope Uzodimma who, in the concocted story, is credited with foiling the purported dastardly plots, would not have retained the aforementioned in his Government, six months after, were there to be any merit in the tale. Barr. Mrs Okafor continues to discharge her role as ISOPADEC Head with distinction; while Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nannah Opiah has since been appointed by the Governor as Coordinator and Senior Adviser on Oil and Gas in Imo State.”

The release further said: “On the issue of the ISOPADEC’s alleged contract scam with Opiah, we do not know what the newspaper and its sponsors seek to achieve by that tale.

ISOPADEC duly acknowledges the legendary role of Rt. Hon. Opiah towards its 2007 creation. He is also a very senior figure and leader from the oil producing area of Imo State. Notwithstanding, we wish to state categorically and unequivocally that Rt. Hon. Oppiah is not one of our contractors, and has never executed any job or project for ISOPADEC. This is without prejudice to his right to apply to be considered as a contractor in strict compliance with our operating procedures and other extant laws.

“The general public and especially the good people of ISOPADEC’s catchment area are hereby reminded that ISOPADEC is a public corporation and an interventionist agency governed by clear-cut codes and laws. We do not engage in partisan politics and will and should not be dragged into the labyrinths of partisan politics, whether now or in the future,” the release concluded.

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