Delta State House of Assembly Thursday screened and confirmed the commissioner nominees including former embattled information commissioner, Patrick Ukah who has been accused of looting his ministry of millions of naira through bogus contracts awarded to cronies.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had early this week forwarded names of eight commissioners designate to the state house of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The eight nominees sent by governor Okowa to the house included the embattled “corrupt” former information commissioner, Patrick Ukah, former political adviser to the governor, Festus Ochonogor, former deputy speaker, Basil Ganagana, Mrs. Florence Alanta, former works commissioner, James Auguoye, former attorney general and commissioner for justice, Peter Mrakpor, former lands and survey commissioner, Chika Ossai and a one time commissioner for education, Patrick Muoboghare.
It would be recalled that Ukah was enmeshed in a fraud running into several millions of naira in Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba and the Pointer Newspapers during his first tenure reign as information commissioner.
The embattled former information commissioner was said to have used the state owned Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri as well and the state owned Newspapers, The Pointer to loot millions of naira from the coffers of the ministry through frivolous contracts he was said to have awarded to some of his cronies without any traceable addresses of such contractors.
It was gathered that embattled Ukah, had lied in some official documents in his hand over note presented to the state transition committee.
In the documents, according to an impeccable source close to the transition committee, Ukah, lied that he purchased eight cameras at the cost of N18,721,738.00 for Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri, purchased some equipment for Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri at the cost of N9,654,750.00, repaired the FM coxial feeder line at Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri at the cost of N16,620,000.00, purchased some equipment for Delta Broadcasting Service at N11,553,750.00.
In the documents, Ukah, also lied to have carried out the repairs of the back-up transmitters at Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, Ubulu-Uku and Warri at the cost of N43,000,000.00, Mast tensioning, painting and repairs of Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba at the cost of N11,150,000.00, installation of antenna and repairs of TV transmitters at the cost of N57,240,000.00, brief to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the 2017 flood disaster in Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and restoration of the station back to air at the cost of N17,000,000.00, repairs of faulty back up transmitters at Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, Ubulu-Uku and Warri at the cost of N68,380,000.00.
At the screening today on the floor of the house, the nominees who were called in batches were asked to introduce themselves and name their various representatives in the house and thereafter, they were asked to take a bow and go by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori who presided over the session.
The motion for their confirmation was moved by the Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere and unanimously adopted.
Meanwhile the House has adjourned to Tuesday July 2, 2019.
