By Onyekachi Eze
The immediate past Commandant General of the Imo State Civil Guards, Hon Donatus Ewe Ejifugha has dragged his successor, Hon Martins Ekeh to the cleaners over allegations on embezzlement of #40m procurement of the Command’s security gadgets, two vehicles, sexual scandal, and accusations bordering on character.
Reacting to the claims of the incumbent commandant General, Ejifugha, who briefed Newsmen in Owerri yesterday, described Ekeh as a drowning man who only want to ruin his efforts in placing the Civil Guard to where it is now.
He said as a leader, he never made enemies from both the state government, the public and the officers, adding that he spread his recruitment across the Council Areas of Imo.
Speaking on the monetary accusation, Ejifugha narrated that Okorocha never gave him any money, talk more of embezzling it.
While describing Ekeh’s #40m claim as the most allegation of the year, the retired Police officer opined that the then governor only promised to release the money to the command for a six months special duty they executed, stressing that when he approached the governor for the remittance of the pledge, he dismissed them with the excuse that ‘EFCC blocked the state’s accounts’.
“We did Special Duties for the State for 6 months, but Rochas Okorocha didn’t pay. He said he would pay it through the then SA Domestic, Mrs Ijeoma Igboanusi which she also didn’t pay to them because she too never received it”.
The former commandant General also disclosed that he have no vehicle, both the truck and the tata hilux under his custody as he is accused of.
Meanwhile, he called on the State government to as a matter of urgency and transparency investigate Ekeh’s July salary.
Chief Ewe pointed out that on assumption into office as the acting Commandant, Ekeh changed the salary structure and padded it by 70% at the detriment of the young staffers.
He recalled that when he held sway, the workers received salaries on every 27th of the month, while he added that it’s not the same case with Ekeh’s leadership.
In furtherance, Ejifugha cited the law establishing the command, which states that for anyone to be a commander, he/she must either be a retired police officer, army, or navy as it’s a parliamilitary outfit.
Sequel to the above, he said Martin Ekeh has no prerequisite to becoming a commandant being just a civilian.
Therefore, he challenged him to lead a parade match before the governor if he claims to be worthy of the position he boasts of.
On promotion, Ejifugha accused his successor of promoting himself and partial recruitment of Mbaitoli people, positing that before he post any female worker, he must demand for a date or would send them to the rural areas, which he said never occurred during his time.
