By Okey Alozie
The Judicial Commission of inquiry on contracts, sitting at Court Nine (9) Owerri on last week entered into another next stage on the matter involving Ichie Best Mbanaso, former Commissioner for works and Mrs. Ogechi Ololo, Sister to Former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Ichie who returned to witness box for cross examination by the Counsel to Ogechi Ololo, (former Governor’s wife Sister) was bombarded with questions.
Ogechi’s Lawyer, E.C. Egonu (Mrs) while cross examining Ichie Mbanaso initially told the Panel that she was going to ask 34 questions.
She asked if it was the duty of Deputy Chief of Staff to procure trucks for sanitation which Mbanaso answered that it was the directive of the Governor. When asked if he can show the Commission documents for the purchase of the trucks? Mbanaso answered again that it was on Governor’s directive and it was done orally, adding that it was the system of that time.
Ichie replied her and maintained that it was Governor’s sister (Ogechi) that received the trucks.
Another question she asked, was if Ichie Mbanaso actually submitted his handover note as Deputy Chief of Staff? Which he said yes, At this juncture, she asked if the supply of the truck and tractor that Mbanaso was talking about was mentioned in his handover note.
She went further to state that Mbanaso was not steady in his testimonies of the 30th of April, where he was alleged to have said that when the supplier came, he (Mbanaso) called the Governor who asked him to hand over to Ogechi. The lawyer went further to question Ichie Mbanaso on the visit of Task force on the recovery of Government property during Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha’s led regime and what was recovered from Mbanaso.
Mbanaso accepted that the Task-Force visited him but did not recover any truck from him as speculated.
The female lawyer insisted that from the statements, Mbanaso is misleading the Panel and trying to bring in misunderstanding between the Governor and his Sister, Ogechi.
At this point the Panel stopped Ogechi’s Lawyer for further questions. Even Mbanaso’s Lawyer, Barr. Fintan Ilika also raised concerns on the bombardment of questions by Ogechi Ololo’s Counsel.
