Ihedioha to Okorocha: Your govt shunned TSA, operated 250 bank accounts + How Imo lost N32bn through court judgements under Okorocha

Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has said that his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, operated 250 bank accounts as opposed to the Treasury Single Account being implemented by the Federal Government and many other states.

Ihedioha said of the 250 accounts, 150 were domiciled in Zenith Bank alone while the others were scattered across other financial institutions.

The governor said during Okorocha’s eight-year tenure, Imo State lost 150 cases in court which led to punitive damages amounting to N32bn.

Ihedioha said this while meeting with online reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Tuesday.

He said, “We set up a financial advisory committee led by Abraham Nwankwo, a reputable professional with a good record with DMO (Debt Management Office). Everybody knows he does not take bribes. That is how we found out the state has over 250 bank accounts. I’m commencing TSA tomorrow to sanitise the state’s finances.

“When we implement TSA, people will begin to have some sense of confidence in what we do. You were asking about my priority, it is fundamental to restore confidence in governance.  The government also want to prioritise local government autonomy.”

The governor added that the Imo State Government under Okorocha was ordered by several courts to pay N32bn in damages to several individuals and companies thereby plunging the state deeper in debt. Punch