Fire, yesterday, gutted Ebonyi State House of Assembly in Abakaliki.

The fire, which started in the Accounts Department, spread to the media section of the complex.

According to a source, the fire destroyed properties, including sensitive documents.

At press time, policemen with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were stationed at the gate of the Assembly complex as journalists, casual workers of the state assembly, among others, were not allowed into the complex.

Some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the state have accused youths loyal to Labour Party (LP) of masterminding the fire.

However, others exonerated the youths, saying they would have started with the hallowed chambers, the Speaker’s office and not the account section of the complex, if they were involved.

Reacting to the incident, Governor Martin Elechi said it was wrong for the House to draw any conclusion over the incident, adding that a thorough investigation would be carried out to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the outbreak.

The governor, who expressed delight that no life was lost in the fire, called on the lawmakers to restrain themselves from actions that would not promote peace and unity of the state.

Police story

Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Chris Anyanwu, stated that the fire started at about 1:15am yesterday.

“We got a distress call from the police officer in charge of the House of Assembly complex that there was fire outbreak in the area.

“We dispatched our men to this place and they were led by the Commissioner of police Dikko Maigari.

“With the combined effort of men of the fire service and police force, the fire was put out. As you can see the account section of the Assembly has been razed and it is the only wing that was affected by this inferno.

“The Department of Investigation of the police command has commenced their investigation and as soon as they unravel the cause of the inferno, we will update you.”

Burnt

Items gutted by the inferno include financial records, furniture, computer sets, refrigerators, air conditioner, ceiling and standing fans and other valuable property worth millions of naira.

In his reaction, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku, blamed the fire on the state executive arm of government.

Speaking with journalists immediately after plenary, the Speaker, who expressed shock and disappointment over the development, also accused prominent members in Governor Martin Elechi’s cabinet as being the mastermind of the incident.

When Vanguard visited the Assembly complex, smoke was still billowing from the debris of the items consumed by the fire as jerry cans filled with inflammable substances such as diesel, were seen in some offices yet to be gutted by the fire.

The substance was equally poured on the floor of the House of Assembly complex, but had not ignited before men and officers of the police command responded to the distress call.

Nwazunku further alleged that those responsible for the act were individuals in Governor Elechi’s government, invited over alleged mismanagement of public funds, since the commencement of the present administration.

House probe

Recall that the House had, during its last plenary, summoned Governor Martin Elechi, his son, Elechi Elechi, the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Dr. Ben Igwenyi, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Celestine Nwali, the state Accountant-General to answer questions over their alleged role in misappropriation of public funds.

He said: “We were to begin hearing on this matter today (yesterday) only to be told that the account section, media office of the state Assembly complex was gutted by fire.

“Those responsible were those we invited to answer questions concerning the mismanagement of public funds.”

During the plenary, the House further declared vacant the seats of Oliver Nwachuwku, who represents Abakaliki North and the embattled Deputy Speaker, who represents Afikpo South East and Blaise Orji, bringing to six the number of seats declared vacant.

Source: VANGUARD