Former Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Abia State, Professor Anthony Agbazuere has been granted bail by the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government property and funds, headed by Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd).
Agbazuere, who served as the Chief of Staff in the administration of former Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, was granted bail in the sum of five hundred thousand naira and one surety in like sum.
Recall that the Panel had recently Issued a Bench Warrant on Agbazuere for his alleged failure to honour invitation concerning a government vehicle in his possession.
Announcing the decision of the Panel, its Chairman, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe said that the surety to be produced by Agbazuere should swear an Affidavit of means and must be a Permanent Secretary of Grade Level 17 or a serving member in the Abia State House of Assembly from the constituency of the witness.
The panel adjourned hearing on the matter to 2nd February, 2024.
But speaking to journalists after appearing before the Panel, the former Chief of Staff and PDP House of Representatives candidate for Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South constituency, said he was already stepping out of his house at about 8 am on Wednesday to respond to the Panel’s invitation, before seeing some policemen in his house in Umuahia.
He denied the rumours in town that he was handcuffed or taken to the Afara Prison Yard by the police.
The former Chief of Staff said that he had nothing to hide, hence his return from Abuja to respond to the invitation.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Staff to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Don Ubani has also appeared before the Panel, which had also issued a bench warrant on him.
Ubani, who is a stern critic of Governor Alex Otti, said he was invited by the Panel concerning a car “bequeathed” to him by the Abia State government after his service to the State.
He declared that it had been the “Standard Practice” in Abia since 1999, to allow members of the executive council, legislators, judges, local government chairmen and their deputies to go with their official cars when leaving office.
Ubani, however, praised the chairman and members of the Panel for not subjecting him to hostility during his appearance.
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