Days After Court Froze 27 Accounts Of Abia State Govt, Finance Commissioner Resigns

The Abia State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Aham Uko, has confirmed his resignation from the cabinet of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday evening, he confirmed his resignation by simply saying, “Yes. it is true”, without giving any explanation on why he resigned from his position in the administration.

However, sources close to the Government House, Umuahia, said Dr. Uko resigned as commissioner about a month ago, “but Government House decided to keep it secret until after the elections”.

Sources said Uko had tendered his resignation letter to the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu some weeks ago, and was duly acknowledged by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Barr Chris Ezem. But when contacted, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Chris Ezem simply said, “I don’t know anything about that. I don’t know where you people got that from. ”The sources had disclosed that the Abia Finance Commissioner resigned on personal grounds, according to his resignation letter dated February 7, 2023, which was addressed to His Excellency, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu.

The source further revealed that the official announcement is expected this week, stating that Uko may have decided to quit the appointment to continue with his private business which has come to near stagnation since he took up the appointment several years ago and has offered to render any services that might be required of him by the Gov Ikpeazu led administration following his resignation on pro bono basis.

Dr Aham Uko, who assumed leadership of the ministry in 2019 after Ikpeazu’s re-election, is said to have insisted on the payment of pensioners and salaries.

According to the sources, this had often pitched him against other relevant state financial authorities who would always tell the elderly statesmen, “There is no money”, while many times, Uko advice on salaries payment were discarded.

“He had never been happy about the unpaid backlog of salaries,” the source maintained.

Recall that last week, a Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, ordered the freezing of all the accounts of the Abia State government domiciled in about 27 commercial banks.

Justice Bello Kawu gave the order while ruling on a motion ex parte motion marked No: M/6686/2023 filed by one Mr Uche Eni against the Accountant-General of Abia State and the Commissioner for Finance.

In its ruling on the motion, the court was said to have further barred all the banks from cooperating with the financial aides of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu pending the determination of the motion on notice.