The Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, has denied knowledge of the sudden disappearance of one Joseph Ununu, a House of Assembly aspirant and Chairman of Abakaliki Rice Mill association.
Ununu is aspiring to represent Abakaliki South state constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is presently being occupied by one Barr. Luke Nkwegu.
He was said to have refused entreaties from some major stakeholders in the state to step down for Nkwegu.
Investigation revealed that Ununu was allegedly arrested by security operatives who stormed Ebonyi State and whisked him away, following his alleged involvement in the importation of poisonous rice into the state.
But Umahi, who spoke through his Senior Special Adviser on Security, Mr Kenneth Ugbala, while briefing journalists in Abakaliki, said the government has no knowledge of either the arrest or disappearance of Ununu.
Ugbala also announced the suspension of the leadership of the rice mill headed by Joseph Ununu
“An interim leadership will be set up to manage the affairs of the rice mill till further notice as nature abhors vacuum,” he said.
The aide explained that the action of the government was not a witch-hunt targeted at Ununu due to his political ambition.
Ugbala debunked any political undertone to government’s actions, adding that the state government is only interested in saving the lives of Ebonyi people and Nigerians who consume the rice daily.
“We are not interested in any witch-hunt I am not from the constituency. Members of the committee are not from the constituency, so we have no interest in the politics of the area or the chairman’s political interest”.
Ugbala also said some shops belonging to some members of the market’s leadership were among the ten shops where the adulterated rice were discovered.
“The leadership is supposed to monitor the market and ensure that such adulterated rice does not come into the market. They have not been able to do this and that is why the State government ordered their suspension,” he added.
Responding, the spokesman of the Ebonyi state Police Command, ASP Loveth Odah confirmed the incident to DAILY POST.
“One of the bags of rice has been sent to NAFDAC for expert analysis to confirm if they are poisonous. The Commissioner of Police, Titus Lamorde has directed the matter to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department for adequate investigation to be carried out,” she said.
