Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has vowed to sanction the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Grace Umezuruike, if found guilty of diverting the sum of N1.5bn earmarked by his administration to purchase rice for the people of the state for last year’s Christmas celebration.

A social crusader in the state, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that the SSG diverted the amount to her private account.

The anti-graft agency has reportedly secured injunction in an Uyo federal high court division seeking forfeiture of the money to the federal government.

Nwifuru promised to take actions once the court is done with its investigations and judgement on the matter.

The Governor stated this on Sunday in Abakaliki, the state capital at a church service.

“I received the news of a publication which was already before the Federal High Court Uyo about our Secretary to the State Government.

“She is presumed innocent until investigation reveals otherwise. I am a lawyer and I know it is imperative to establish the facts before judgment to avoid setting wrong precedents,” he said.

The Governor also said that he has taken critical appraisal of the performances of some of his appointees and expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as failure of some of them to deliver on their mandates.

“We are worried that the vision statement as contained in our people’s charter of needs has not been satisfactorily realized, which accounted for the minor reshuffle we did. Our mission and vision are explicit and that was why the people voted for us. However we are still assessing them and we shall do the needful if the need arises.”

He expressed his readiness to relieve non-performers of their jobs in the event the grace period extended to them elapses without commensurate performances. (The Sun)