Imo: Okorocha’s ex-commissioner jailed three years for N180m theft

A former Commissioner for Transportation in Imo State, Laz  Anyanwu, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years imprisonment for stealing N80m from the state treasury.

Anyanwu, who served during the administration of ex-governor Rochas Okorocha, was found guilty as charged by the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Judge K. A.  Lewanya said the EFCC proved the charges against the ex-commission beyond a reasonable doubt.

The EFCC accused  Anyanwu of diverting N180m belonging to the state into the account of a private company, where he is a shareholder and the sole signatory to the account.

He was said to have committed the offence during his time as the Chairman of the Interim Committee of the Imo State Transport Company. The judge said Anyanwu’s action violated the Public Procurement Act and amounted to abuse of office.

He noted that the ex-commissioner used his office to gain undue advantage in his dealings as the Chairman, Interim Committee of the ITC.

The judge said he acted contrary to sections 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020.

Apart for jailing him for three years, the judge said Anyanwu should forfeit the N180m found in his account to the  state transport company. Punch