Abia State Ministry of Digital Economy and SME, now known as Ministry of Industry and SME has appeared before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties and funds.
The Deputy Director of SME in the Ministry, Mrs Chinyere-Ruth Nwosu said the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry Health awards Health related contracts and distributes drugs donated by World Bank and other Partners in the State.
Mrs Nwosu said Abia State SME Microfinance Bank was not functioning until the present administration in the State dissolved the Board and appointed Management of the Bank headed by Mazi Chimeremeze Okigbo who serves as the CEO/MD, adding that the Microfinance Bank is also domiciled in the Office of the Governor.
She disclosed that during one of the meetings of the then Board, it was alleged that one of the officials embezzled the sum of N100,000,000 out of N200,000,000 borrowed by Abia State SME Microfinance Bank.
She alleged that out of the two vehicles belonging to the Microfinance Bank, the Toyota Sienna is currently parked in the Bank, while the Toyota Corolla vehicle was discovered in the residence of the then Commissioner, adding that efforts made by the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Justina Eboh to recover the vehicle proved abortive.
Also in his Speech, the HOD of Finance in the Ministry, Mr Kelechi Onyegbule said the Abia State House of Assembly gave the Committee set up by the previous administration approval to borrow the sum of N200,000,000 to run Abia State SME Microfinance Bank, adding that he cannot ascertain whether the money has been refunded.
Mr Onyegbule said that the then Deputy Director of Finance in the Ministry, who is signatory to the account, has further information regarding the alleged missing N100,000,000.
