Bayelsa State Government has said former Chief of Staff to the State Governor (Abuja Office), Chief Diekivie Ikiogha, has yet to return some of the government properties in his possession six months after his resignation.
The government said the action was against the public Service rules and had therefore ordered Ikiogha, who is now a leader of the All Progressives Congress, to return all properties in his possession.
A source in Government House, who craved anonymity, said in defiance to the public/civil service rules, the former Chief of Staff only returned some properties while others were still being kept in his custody.
The source said, “In accordance with the administration’s principle of transparency and accountability, the government reported the matter to the police. No public officer, after leaving office has the right to withhold government properties.
“However, instead of doing the needful by returning the remaining properties in his possession, the former Chief of Staff headed for court, asking for injunction to stop police from arresting him. Ikiogha, after leaving office as the Chief of Staff, Abuja office is still having some government properties in his custody.
“It is clearly stated in the public/civil service rules that any official that is leaving the office should hand over properties in his/her possessions to the most senior officer in the ministry, department or agency.”
The source said Ikiogha, instead of handing over all the properties, only returned some and kept the others.
“The idea of asking him to return the properties should not be politicised. It is not aimed at witchhunting him but he should do the needful,” the source said.
It was learnt that the government had concluded arrangement to drag Ikiogha to if he refuses to return the properties within the stipulated period.
But in a reaction to the allegation, Ikiogha said he was taken aback by the statement that he absconded with government properties.
He wondered the property the government was talking about since he had returned all government properties in his possession.
Ikiogha said, “I would not have bothered to reply this infantile statement which was not specific on what government properties are in my possession and which I absconded with, but for the wrong impression that may be created in the minds of Bayelsans and Nigerians as, I may indeed be, God willing, his rival for the governorship elections scheduled for December 5, 2015.
“When I left government, the only government properties that were with me were the two Hi-Lux vehicles given to me by Mr. Dickson personally, which I have since returned with the official plate numbers as demanded by the Governor himself.
“I challenge him to be specific on any other government property that is in my possession that I have not returned as claimed by his office.
“It is regrettable that Dickson has reduced himself to pettiness instead of facing governance which is what he was elected to do. Following my indication to contest against him, Dickson has been looking for ways to humiliate me. He even attempted to use law enforcement agents to arrest me, but I went to the court to stop the illegal move.”
He urged the Governor to wait till they got to the political field where they would face each other in a popularity contest instead resorting to blackmail.
Punch
Posted by Jamal
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