Anthony Iwuoma
The Imo State Government, on Wednesday, said it has discovered the equipment looted from Nsu Ceramic and Tiles Industry in a warehouse allegedly owned by former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The equipment were imported by the then government of the late Dr. Sam Mbakwe but were carted away during the administration of Okorocha. They have now been discovered hidden in the warehouse along Owerri/ Aba road in the state.
The Imo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Simon Ebegbulem, who was at the warehouse for a first hand assessment, disclosed that some patriotic citizens of the state tipped off the government that various public-owned facilities were hidden in the warehouse.
He added that the equipment, which were ferried out Nsu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, ended up in the private warehouse intended for use in setting up a private industry by the former governor.
According to the commissioner, the Emeka Ihedioha administration had also discovered some properties belonging to the state government at the same location.
“There was a time the administration of Hope Uzodimma, raised an alarm of the equipment of Nsu ceramic and tiles industries looted by Administration of Rochas Okorocha, that was after some patriotic citizens of the state raised an alarm of where these Imo properties looted and were kept by the Okorocha’s along Owerri/Aba road.
“We followed up to find out the truth and with what we have seen today, in Okorocha’s warehouse there is a plan by Okorocha, to set up a ceramic factory with government-owned properties as a personal factory.
“A reliable information we have gathered from those guiding the warehouse said that sometimes they (Okorocha’s) people do come here to pick some items and sell them” Ebegbilem said.
Speaking further, he added: “However, some of the equipment we are looking for are here and we have come to take possession of the Imo properties and anybody we see here will blame himself. We have taken over the government properties for the good of Imolites based on their demands.
“Some of the public properties discovered included equipment of the Nsu ceramic and tiles industries set up by the then government of Sam Mbakwe as the industry established for Imo people have been personalized.
“We also found street lights equipment and their components, traffic light accessories, artificial tree plants were all found in the large warehouse owned by Okorocha. Also, a moulder from the Nsu tiles and ceramics and other components of the Nsu tiles Industries were discovered to be in the warehouse and now we have taken over.”
