The Abia State House of Assembly ad hoc committee investigating the N22b Paris Club refund to Abia State has threatened to issue warrant of arrest on the Secretary to the State Government, Chris Eze, and others should they fail to appear before it.

Others include the former and present commissioners for finance, Accountant General and others invited, but had not honour the invitation.

At committee’s sitting Monday, Emeka Okoroafor, member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency and Chairman of the ad hoc committee said, “We are doing our constitutional mandate as it concerns public fund and anyone one who fails to come, then we will apply to the Speaker for warrant of arrest to bring them here to do what is needful.

The committee chairman said one Obinna Oriaku alleged on the social media that the N22b refund was received by the state government within 2015 and 2019 when he was the Commissioner for Finance and that there were two consultancy firms, Ziplon (Concept) and Mauritz Waton (Nigeria Limited) that were engaged by the state government at the ridiculous 20 per cent and 30 per cent.

The chairman added, “His argument was that after he left office, he did know whether the amount was paid and that matter is in different courts.

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“It was based on the controversy and the report that we received from the law firm, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Co, and many petitioners that we decided investigate Obinna Oriaku’s claim.

He added that the invited people who should help in the fact finding mission, adding that many of them refused to honour the invitation.

“We will be left with no other option than to do what the constitution demands that we should do.”