By TINA TIMOTHY

The Abia State Government’s Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties, funds and related matters is set to begin sitting on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 by 10am at Old Government House, Umuahia.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday, July 28, 2023, signed by the Secretary to the Judicial Panel, Engr (Mrs) Justina Oluchi Ebo.

Consequently, petitions/memoranda were invited from individuals and corporate bodies “on the looting and or conversion of Government properties, funds and related matters from May, 2015 to May, 2023.”

According to the panel’s Terms of Reference, the panel is, “To receive and examine complaints from individuals and corporate entities on the looting and or conversion of Government properties, funds and related matters from May, 2015 to May, 2023 and, where necessary, make recommendations to the Governor for remedial measures or any other measures as appropriate.

“Examine and ascertain whether Government moveable and immovable assets and funds or part of it have been illegally acquired/occupied/converted to private use from May, 2015 to May, 2023 and identify the persons responsible and further make recommendations for recovery and appropriate sanctions.

“Ascertain the extent of allocation and revocation of land in Abia State from May 2015 to May, 2023 and determine the propriety of such allocation and revocation.

“Review the award and execution of contracts from May 2015 to May 2023 and ascertain if they were in conformity with extant laws.

“To review employments, promotions, appointments, payments in respect of the employments, appointments and termination of the employments and appointments from May 2015 to May 2023 and to ascertain if they were in conformity with extant laws.

“To investigate any other matter incidental or related to the foregoing Terms of Reference and make recommendations to the Government based on their findings.”

The procedure of the petition/memoranda, which must be submitted on or before twenty-one days from the date of this publication, according to the statement, is as follows:

“Interested members of the public are requested to submit seven copies of Petitions/Memoranda typed in double-line spacing.

“Each Petition must be verified by an affidavit while a memorandum may be notarized or verified by an affidavit.

“Each Petition/Memoranda shall contain:

“The full address, email and telephone number of the petitioner, names, addresses and phone numbers of a respondent, date, place, nature and circumstances of the complaint and shall be submitted in an envelope and addressed to: Secretary to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Government Properties and Funds and Related Matters, Old Government House, Umuahia, Abia State.

“Documents must be submitted on or before twenty-one days from the date of this publication.”