By Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
The Ebonyi State Government has ordered the arrest of some contractors, consultants, and members of the State Projects Implementation Units (SPIU) over alleged conspiracy to defraud the state in the ongoing Ring Road projects.
Chairman of the Steering Committee and Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, issued the order during a review meeting on contractor compliance with resolutions and the Action Plan.
He said many firms had abandoned projects despite repeated warnings from Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
Mbam expressed disappointment at what he described as “nonchalant and fraudulent attitudes” of the contractors, accusing them of manipulation, noncompliance, and conspiracy.
He recalled that the governor had earlier warned contractors to deliver value for payments already received, yet many failed to mobilize back to site.
According to the committee, irregularities uncovered include overpayments, reckless project abandonment, deliberate delays, and misappropriation of funds.
It also faulted the substitution of project engineers with consultants, stressing that project engineering is a statutory duty of civil servants who are accountable for service delivery.
The committee advised contractors who may have collected unapproved funds to refund them or face legal action.
Meanwhile, some representatives of erring contractors including Kakatar CE Limited, Marco Kings Engineering Limited, a consultant, and some SPIU members are already in police custody, assisting investigations.