Abia panel orders arrest of auctioneer over missing N7m hospital generator

Chairman of Abia State Judicial Panel on recovery of government properties and funds, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd) has said the bench warrant the Panel issued on an Auctioneer, Chikwendu Ahiwe, who allegedly carted away a 125KVA generator set belonging to General Hospital Isuikwuato LGA, is still in force.

Justice Duruoha-Igwe, who said this after entertaining a five-counter affidavit and written submission brought before the Panel by the Counsel to the respondent Mr Onyemachi Matthew, made it clear that the primary reason for the bench warrant on Ahiwe, was to ensure that he produced the generator or its monetary value worth N7 million.

Earlier in his submission, the Lead Counsel to the Panel Chief H. N. Doruoha drew the attention of the Panel to the fact that the matter was adjourned on 21/2/24 in the presence of the Counsel to the respondent.

The Lead Counsel described the motion brought by the respondent’s lawyer praying to stop the bench warrant on the Auctioneer, as lacking in merit.

However, the Counsel to Mr Chikwendu Ahiwe, Mr Matthew, said his client has two matters before the Panel pointing out that in particular matter in reference where his client was ordered to be arrested, was not made known to him and prayed the Panel to give him more time to produce the 125KVA generator.